Improving Ethnic Relations in Supported Southeast Europe projects and A capacity building, initiatives learning oriented and development grants programme Programme 2001 A partnership of the King Baudouin Foundation, the Soros Foundations and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Editor Guido Knops, King Baudouin Foundation Coordination Jan Balliu, King Baudouin Foundation Mariana Milosheva, Regional Consultant to the programme Editing Liz Harrison Contributions from Civic Initiatives (Serbia), Human Development Promotion Centre (Albania), Inter-Ethnic Initiative for Human Rights Foundation (Bulgaria) and Ethno- cultural Diversity Resource Centre (Romania) Graphic Design Bailleul – Gent/Belgium Print Vanmelle – Gent/Belgium D/2002/2848/09 ISBN: 2-87212-395-4 Acknowledgments The King Baudouin Foundation would like to thank all its partners for their commitment and efforts to make this programme possible. As it is impossible to mention them by name, a special mention is due to all NGO’s and individuals in the local communities; without their belief and energy the story of this book could not have been told. The project presentations were provided for by the coordinating partner organisations. It is possible that some data are incorrect and/or have changed. Therefore, contact the coordinating partners if you require updated information. Preface 4 Albania 5 Bulgaria 17 Romania 41 Serbia 49 Contact information 63 Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in Central/Eastern Europe and Russia 65 Soros Foundations Network 66 King Baudouin Foundation 67 Preface The programme “Improving Inter-Ethnic Relations in Central and Eastern Europe” was initiated by the King Baudouin Foundation and started in 1996 in seven countries. In 1999 the programme covered sixteen countries. From 1999 a review started of the previous years programme that resulted in a new approach and a geographical focus on Southeast Europe. “Improving Ethnic Relations in Southeast Europe”, continues to be a partnership effort of the King Baudouin Foundation, the respective National Soros Foundations and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. At the country level, the programme is developed and coordinated by our national partner organisations. A detailed overview on what the programme involves and a first glance on the achievements is gathered in the publication “Out of the Balkan Puzzle”. As the subtitle to the programme suggests, this is more than just a grants programme. There is a multitude of efforts assuring that local organisations and community initiatives build know-how and capacities to address their local needs in their inter-ethnic realities. This publication wants to give an overview of the supported initiatives in the countries where the programme has started in spring 2001: Albania, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia. The programme was recently launched in Macedonia and will be set up later this year in Croatia. Their initiatives will be included in next year’s overview. The information which is provided, on each of the projects is edited by our national coordinating partners. The descriptions are indicative of what happened in each of them and do not always reflect the dynamics and energy which was generated. More detailed information is available upon request with each of the coordinating partners. Also, the information is based on the situation at the moment of editing and therefore we can’t yet give a detailed indication of the results. We plan to publish a report in the autumn of 2002 on the impact and generated changes in the communities of some of the projects and initiatives described. To conclude, it is worthwhile to mention that we all try to identify initiatives and projects, which are as close as possible to the set objectives of the programme as a whole and the national situation in particular. What works in one country is perhaps not relevant in another. An ongoing monitoring of the local needs will allow to learn from each other and to review the programme each year, ensuring we match the ambitious challenge we have put ourselves. 4 SLOVAK REP. Bratislava MOLDOVA Budapest Chisinau HUNGARY eb ROMANIA TIA Bucharest SNIA AND Belgrade RZEGOVINA SERBIA Sarajevo FED. REP. OF YUGOSLAVIA MONTE BULGARIA NEGRO Sofia Padgorica FYR Skopje MACEDONIA Tirana ALBANIA GREECE TURKEY Albania Project title Minorities in Southeast Albania: progress, problems, solutions Project description The project aims to increase the role of the school as the most important institution in instigating a culture of coexistence Organisation between the Albanian population and the Greek minority. 80 Albanian Specialists of Education, teachers, 900 scholars and 200 parents will be involved in the Tirana & Saranda project activities. Seminars and other activities with the goal of getting to know the cultures of both ethnic groups will be Place/region where the project is organised during the project implementation (literature, carried out culture, music, sport, etc.). Saranda District (Çuke, Livadhja, Dhiver, Bistrice) Part of the project involves the establishment and operation of the Students’ Government, in which students from both Ethnic groups involved ethnic groups will participate. Another part involves setting Albanians, Greeks up a School Board, with the participation of representatives from the two ethnic groups. Project duration 6 months Project title Talking to each other Project description The project will be implemented in an area of the city where Roma and Albanian communities live together, but where Organisation there is little communication between them. Through simple Public Health, Elbasan activities with young people and women this project aims to increase collaboration between two communities. Place/region where the project is carried out Four people from each of the two communities will be Elbasan City selected as volunteer animators who will organise free- ranging discussions about topics such as health, culture, the Ethnic groups involved arts, the family and so on. During the weekend, these Albanians, Roma, Egyptians rendezvous will be called "Have a coffee with us". Project duration The activities will be covered in the media. Two programmes 6 months will also be transmitted on local TV. 7 Project title Education and integration of young people in the Çarshova community, Permet Project description The objective of the project is to decrease phenomena which reinforce segregation, such as the absence of marriage between the two ethnic groups, separate cemeteries, damage to places of religious worship, lack of respect for the traditions of each community, etc. The objective will be achieved through integrating the activities of young people from the two ethnic groups (Albanian and Greek) in the Çarshova community, Permet. Cooperation and coexistence of the two ethnic groups will be achieved through the distribution of leaflets and appeals to maintain the traditions of each group. Two religious rites will be organised, in the Biovizhdes church and the Çarshova mosque respectively. The project will also set up an office to serve as an information centre and as a venue for joint activities. The activities include competitions, a football championship and various meetings. Organisation Association for Women Rights & NGOs Coordination Office, Permet Place/region where the project is carried out Permet District (Çarshova) Ethnic groups involved Albanians, Greeks Project duration 6 months 8 Project title Encouragement of relations between the Albanian population and the Greek minority, in the villages of Lefterako, Varfaj and Kakadhiq, through better mutual understanding Project description The project aims to provide financial assistance for an Organisation Albanian child who lives in the Varfaj. She is ill with anaemia Activists for human rights, Gjirokastra and needs to get blood at the Janina hospital in Greece. An awareness campaign among both Greek and Albanian Place/region where the project is inhabitants of the surrounding villages will contribute to carried out fund-raising. Sensitising Albanian emigrants in Greece to the Saranda, Gjirokastra, Tepelena child’s plight will also be part of the project. Districts (Lefterako, Varfaj, Kakadhiq) Another issue will involve trying to resolve the conflict over Ethnic groups involved pastures between inhabitants of the (Greek) Lefterako and Albanians, Greeks (Albanian) Varfaj communities. Project duration Round tables, leaflets and documentaries will be transmitted 7 months on the local TV stations of Saranda, Tepelena and Gjirokastra as part of the project. Project title Youth for the future Project description The project aims to establish good communication between Organisation the Albanian and Greek communities. Youth Council Gjirokastra The project consists of 2 phases. The first phase consists of Place/region where the project is organising a total of 6 round tables, followed by training on carried out interethnic culture. 15 young people will be familiarised with Gjirokastra District (Dropull villages) the most frequent ethnic problems and how to solve them. The second phase comprises a series of activities in Gjirokaster, Ethnic groups involved Dervician, Jorgucat called "Open games for all", which will be Albanians, Greek minority organised once a week with the participation of both ethnic groups. Project duration 6 months 9 Project title Media role in strengthening interethnic relations between Albanians, Greeks, Arumuns, Roma and Egyptians in Gjirokastra Project description The project activities will involve the