BAIRSKA SVETLINA – A HELP DESK FOR THE ROMA IN NORTH MACEDONIA Based in North Macedonia, Bairska Svetlina works to strengthen capacity of Roma communities, improve their socio-economic status and education, and build skills of young Roma activists. With strategic access to the community, Bairska Svetlina aims to help Roma enjoy basic human rights while promoting their inclusion and integration within society. Exceptional, Scoping and Action Awards (EUR 20,000) READ MORE ON COVID-19 Statelessness and the lack of a registered civil status and personal IMPACTS IN NORTH MACEDONIA HERE documentation undermines access to basic social and economic rights for many people in Macedonia, most prominently within the Roma community. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the issues faced by the community. Already viewed as outsiders, excluded and discriminated against, the Roma faced heightened anti-Gypsyism, livelihood challenges and denial of state relief and vaccinations. Bairska Svetlina unpacked and documented the systemic reasons behind the exclusion of the Roma community in the context of COVID-19. Functioning as a Help Desk, they offered information and legal advice to support community members to access government food cards, help packages and documentation and to understand quarantine regulations. A vaccination campaign was organised in cooperation with the Red Cross, Center for Public Health and Bair-Bitola Joint Project for Roma Inclusion. By documenting cases of exclusion, Bairska Svetlina expanded their evidence database and utilised it in advocacy targeting government and humanitarian actors. Impact • Through the Exceptional Award, the Bairska Svetlina office which was destroyed in a hate crime, was rebuilt. • The project provided more than 400 relief packages with support of the Red Cross and commercial groups. • Bairska Svetlina offered legal support to over 400 community members through the Help Desk, enabling them to exercise their right to social assistance and access to state relief during the COVID-19 crisis. • Through the Help Desk, Bairska Svetlina also assisted in other areas such as accessing citizenship, personal documentation, education, healthcare etc. More than 1000 members of the Roma community in Bitola benefited from this support. • The establishment of a vaccination point led to the vaccination of over 100 community members in three days. • Bairska Svetlina established a networking system and developed relationships with authorities dealing with statelessness and documentation including the Ministry of Justice, Assembly of the Republic of Northern Macedonia, Advisor of the Prime Minister for Roma Inclusion and International Initiative for Roma Integration. Future Plans Given that the Help Desk office is becoming increasingly recognisable amongst the community as well as local and national institutions, with sustained funding, Bairska Svetlina will be able to continue and expand its scope to provide documentation assistance to community members in Bitola and other municipalities, while advocating for reform. WALK WITH US - PHIREN AMENCA – “REBORN” IN MONTENEGRO Roma Youth Organization “Walk with us- Phiren Amenca” acts in the best interest of the Roma and Egyptian community (RE) in Montenegro, monitoring policies and engaging in the areas of employment, education, housing, health, legal status, safety and equality. It aims to integrate and actively engage RE youth within Montenegrin society, strengthen institutional capacities and reduce negative attitudes and discrimination against the community. Scoping and Action Awards (EUR 20,000) The project, “REborn”, focused on creating sustainable cooperation with influential actors, including state institutions and other relevant organisations, to shine a light on intergenerational statelessness in the RE community and contribute to addressing the community’s needs which were disproportionately 31 READ MORE ON COVID-19 IMPACTS IN MONTENEGRO HERE