28.12.2023
Just like in the past two decades of its operations in Montenegro, in 2023, Help continued its constant support for the Roma-Egyptian (RE) community in Montenegro through various programs and projects. These efforts are ultimately aimed at the final goal of making our Roma and Egyptian fellow citizens, an integral and productive part of Montenegrin society, equal – not just formally but substantively.
To achieve this goal, it is necessary to improve all areas on which we have been working diligently and intensively for years, together with the community.
Although Help formally successfully concluded the RE Mediator project at the end of 2022, convincing state institutions through the dedicated work of the mediators that their engagement is a bridge between local institutions and the community, what has lead to continuing of 21 mediators staying on jobs in employment offices, social work centers, and health centers, we continued to press for the permanent solution of their status—through the systematization of the RE mediator position.
At the same time, some of the RE mediators continued successful cooperation with us through various projects focusing on supporting the RE community, such as institutional assistance to the most socially vulnerable families, support for women, assistance in addressing the problem of newborn registration, and accessing social protection services.
Help’s work and continuous support for the RE community have been recognized, leading to us being awarded the European Roma Integration Award by the European Commission.
In collaboration with the Ukrainian volunteer organization Good Deeds, Help continued to provide support to refugees from Ukraine in 2023 to facilitate their adaptation to the new circumstances. Alongside necessary first aid in clothing, bedding, and other basic necessities, we continued to support Montenegrin language learning classis for easier adaptation (employment and education) and psychosocial support with a focus on children, whom we took on three-day trips around country.
Human rights, empowerment, and support for the civil sector, as well as informal groups and individuals to implement projects crucial for local communities, with a special focus on northern Montenegro, are also being realized through two projects in partnership with Juventas. Apart of grants for project ideas, we provide mentoring support to civil society organizations, groups, or individuals for the quality implementation of various ideas.
We continued with the projects for supporting employment — with a particular focus on youth and women—and acquiring more quality skills, especially in the IT sector, enabling competitiveness in the job market and earnings for a decent living.
This is the focus of the second phase of the RECONOMY project for the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership—connecting with businesses, especially the IT sector, sustainable tourism, and agriculture. The goal is to create as many quality and well-paying jobs as possible, following the needs of the market and the economy.
Expanding Help’s portfolio to sustainable development, our continuous collaboration with the Institution for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (UIKS) extends not only to support programs for training and rehabilitation for prisoners, but also to energy efficiency.
Also we supported the installation of solar panels on selected agricultural farms for northern Montenegro.
With the goal of leaving no one behind, the most socially vulnerable, in 2023, we started participating in social housing reconstruction projects in Podgorica and Herceg Novi and water supply system adaptation in Berane.
As always, none of this would be possible without the support of our donors: primarily the German Government, our main donor, as well as the EU, ADH, Sida, Helvetas, the Embassy of France, the King Baudouin Foundation, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Montenegrin ministries: of human and minority rights, labor and social welfare, public administration, and other partners with whom we implement projects to support the socio-economic inclusion of all and sustainable development of Montenegrin society.
We continue into 2024!
Your Help team
