About 1000 Roma people live in Mizia Municipality. Most of them live in not properly organized districts with regard to employment, education and infrastructure.

For years Mizia Municipality has worked on the integration of Roma population through improving their living environment, providing relief funds and employment consulting. Despite all the efforts, still there are unsolved problems due to illiteracy and high rate of unemployment among Roma population. Thus it is necessary to integrate them for active community life.

Integration of Roma Minority Program aims at joining efforts of Roma and Bulgarian civic organizations and local government institutions in order to solve minority s problems. Meetings with Roma minority s representatives were conducted, at which they presented their point of view. The main goal of the program is to create social, educational, culture and demographic policy that provides appropriate living environment for Roma population.

The program is expanded to all fields of human activities, related issues and measures that have to be taken in order to solve problems. It is envisaged professional qualification courses for unemployed Roma people to be conducted. Also the Social Integration Center in Mizia is involved in improving customer services for Roma population and in providing information and free consultations in the field of civil and labor rights and obligations.

In order to improve the living environment, the municipality is taking measures to clean district area and provide garbage containers. In the period of October 2003 to April 2004 a project for cleaning of waste polluted areas, separate waste disposal and forestation was implemented.

According to Municipality Strategy 2000-2006 research and design of the water and sewage system is planned, as well as provision of sufficient drinking water for Roma district areas.

Measures for enhancing the health culture of Roma population are planned to be taken discussions on the Health Reform, family planning, AIDS / venereal diseases prevention. A consulting room of family planning is planned to be opened.

The program developed tools for enhancing literacy of Roma population through implementation of specialized social programs and promoting school activities.

A Program priority is the construction and equipment of sport facilities which will provide opportunity for sport activities.

Training courses were conducted. Participants were trained in tailoring and computer literacy.

Dialogue between Roma community and local government was established. The community declared its support and in-kind contribution in applying funded programs.

The municipality gained valuable experience in program implementation that can be shared with other organizations, working in the field. The municipal administration is experienced in joining donor organizations.

All things considered, we believe that the municipal program responded adequately to real needs of Roma community.