The level of civil society development in the Municipality of Peshtera is low for example the number of the registered non-governmental organisations on the territory of the municipality is 2. 35% of the population are roma, 10% - Turkish, around 2% - Armuni and less than 50% - Bulgarians. The ethnic groups within the municipality do not have organised and structured ethnic representation and cultural centres, which can serve the relevant civil group as public mediators and lead the dialogue with the public institutions. Only the Armunian community established an ethnic club to preserve its own cultural traditions, but as a closed structure within the community. There is no coordination between the citizen initiatives for community development. The changing environment suggests changes also within the ethnic groups and the way communicate and work in partnership with the rest of the ethnic groups of the population. These changes also required a different moral and ethic code and commitment for a better social environment at the local level. The traditional minority groups in the municipality have already defined in the public space the need to change the public attitudes towards their own potential. These groups started to take up new roles and social responsibilities.
The Community Centre Peshtera took the initiative and the challenge to serve as a catalyser in the process of social capital strengthening through fair representation and modernisation of the community groups.
On one of its regular sessions, the Managing Board of the Community Centre formed a work group, which main task was to meet the informal leaders of the various ethnic groups and present them with the general objective of the project and its future activities. Those representatives from the various ethnic groups who attended the meeting had the chance to discuss current problems and issues of importance to the ethnic group they represent with other members of the community. As a result from the meetings and debates, a core work group of 20 people has been formed. This group represented all ethnic communities within the municipality: Roma, Turkish, A rmunian , Bulgarians. These people were informal leaders within their communities, motivated enough to work for their communities and be moderators of the dialogue. The work group has been actively involved in a training cycle and participated in the project activities.
The training seminar which aimed at increasing the capacity of the ethnic groups informal leaders to work more efficiently for their communities in partnership with the rest of the ethnic groups on the territory of the municipality; learning new mechanisms for opening up the dialogue among the various social and ethnic groups and working in closer cooperation. The training seminar has been led by Elena Gyurova from the Multiethnic Initiative for Human Rights Foundation. The trainees obtained practical experience and knowledge on the following topics: Community Development Initiatives , Involvement of the Ethnic Groups in the Community Life , Citizen Participation in the Decision-Making Process at the Local Level and Conflict Resolution .
Within the project has been organised a practical study tour in the Municipality of Assenovgrad titled Local Partnership Building . During the study tour the members of the work group from Peshtera had the opportunity to meet representatives from the non-governmental organisation Communities XXI Century an organisation with strong image and proven capacity in the field of community development and solving local social problems.
At the end of the training course the participants were awarded with certificates of achievements. They also shared their positive evaluation on the training seminars and practical events for exchange of successful practices with other municipalities and organisations.
There was a series of meetings and discussions with the representatives from the various ethnic groups, interested in working in the long-term for the improvement of the social dialogue. They elaborated and discussed a common by-laws and statutes of the Ethnic Culture Club. Once the Club has been institutionalised, it organised 4 citizen forums and discussions aiming to define the most urgent problems of the minority groups within the community.
The Ethnic Culture Club initiated a meeting with the municipal leadership in order to discuss an agreement for equal representation and participation of the citizens in the process of decision-making at the local level.
The Municipality of Peshtera participated as a partner in the implementation of the project and contributed with expertise in the elaboration of the agreement of cooperation for ensuring citizen participation in the decision-making process at the municipal level. The municipality also assisted to the project implementation with providing the possibility to have several radio programmes and topical publications in the local newspapers.
The Newly-established Club presented its activities, mission and objectives through radio programmes in the local media; participation in a national discussion round table on cultural and minorities` issues in the small communities, organised by the Ministry of Culture; took part in the national seminar titled The Cultural Integration Realities and Perspectives , organised in Peshtera from the Community Centre Development , the Ministry of Culture and the National Council on Cooperation on the Ethnic and Demographic Issues (Council of Ministers).
20 people representatives from various ethnic groups and mediators for a better social dialogue and culture, were trained and achieved practical skills and knowledge to involve the local ethnic groups in the process of decision-making at the local level. The Community Centre developed its contacts with the community and supported the process of mobilisation of the community human resources for solving minority groups` problems.
The Ethnic Culture Club has been established and acted as a moderator in the project implementation, ensuring representation of all community groups. The Club is institutionalised as a long-term formula for dialogue among the community representatives, the institutions and partnership initiatives between the ethnic groups of the municipality.
The Ethnic Culture Club and the Municipality of Peshtera signed an agreement for cooperation to ensure participation of the various citizen groups in the process of decision-making at the municipal level, which in fact created a strong institutional framework and provided visible regulation of a multi-participatory mechanism.
Upon the initiative of the Club, in May 2006 the Municipal Council adopted a Social Inclusion of the Roma Programme (elaborated in previous project initiatives).
Within the project there was a happening entitled We are All Children of the Mother Earth , organised together by the municipality and the cultural department, which will be a traditional cultural event in the municipality. The project established new and strengthened existing local partnerships.
Contacts:
Maria Zlatkova
Secretary of the Community Centre Development - Peshtera
Municipality of Peshtera
Tel.: (0350) 5681
Mobile phone: 0886 049222
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