EU Project “Nevo Kumpania for Youth – waste management” for better inclusion of Roma Youth

Belgrade, 28.11.2019.

“Kumpania” festival of the “Nevo Kumpania for Youth – waste management’’ project, implemented by Citizens Association Institute for Progress and Cooperation of Western Balkans region in partnership with City Municipality of Savski Venac and Citizens Association Aarhus Center of South & East Serbia, was held today at the Culture Center “Majdan”, Kozjačka 3-5 Beograd.

This action is part of the global project “European Union Support to Active Youth Inclusion”, with total value of 4.7 million EUR, financed by the European Union and co-funded by the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

The significance of the project is in better informing of young Roma about ways of collecting secondary waste materials and improving the environmental situation on the territory of the City Municipality of Savski Venac and Republic Serbia.

Irena Vujović, President of City Municipality of Savski Venac, underlined the importance of the project to Roma communities and young Roma particularly. It is of great significance to provide young Roma population with knowledge, tools and contacts, which will help in creation and sustainability of new jobs and businesses. Young people, especially Roma Youth, need support and training for inception of new business ventures and better growth and development of existing ones. Employed young people are pillars of every prosperous community. Take the opportunity which this event provides, make new contacts, acquire information and enjoy rich cultural and artistic program.

The “European Union Support to Active Youth Inclusion” project, total value of which is EUR 4.7 million, financed by the EU (IPA 2014) and co-funded by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, aims to ensure greater social inclusion of youth population in Serbia by increasing of employment, youth activity, work experience and entrepreneurship practice among youth population. Through the project the EU and Government of Serbia has granted 24 grants, which will be implemented in more than 35 cities and municipalities in Serbia by the end of 2021. The projects implemented by the national and provincial social welfare institutions, municipalities and cities, citizens associations, foundations and educational institutions will increase the scope and quality of services at the local level in education and employment, innovative practice, active inclusion mechanisms and models and thereby strengthen the social inclusion of youth. The impact and tangible outcomes of the project are expected at all levels concerning the overall readiness and increased capacities of relevant institutions for the innovative development and management of youth active inclusion measures, policy development in line with best EU practices, and effective use of related EU financial assistance.

The project is managed by the Ministry of Finance, Department for Contracting and Financing of EU Funded Programmes (CFCU), while the project beneficiary institutions are the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs and Ministry of Youth and Sports.

More about the project can be found on www.ukljucivanjemladih.rs

The European Union’s donations to Serbia exceed EUR 3.6 billion from 2000 to date. The funds have been used to support development, quality of life and reforms in: civil protection, flood relief and protection, education, connectivity, environment, health and consumer protection, culture, rule of law, local development, jobs and growth, public administration, migration, public financial management, civil society and media, social inclusion, youth and sport. EU support is implemented in cooperation with the Government of Serbia. The European Union is a larger donor of development aid to Serbia than all other international donors put together.