Some 4,500 (20% of the municipality's population) Romas live in the Municipality of Kozlodui; most of them are residents of Kozlodui and Boutan. KREDI initiated a meeting with representatives of the local government and the Roma communities. The meeting identified education and healthcare as the major issues faced by the Roma population. In regard to education, the problem was the large number of children not visiting schools or dropping out of school. In regard to healthcare, the problem was the low awareness on health related issues.

Mrs. Carina Kovalska, manager of the British Multi Technologies Group (one of the founders of KREDI) proposed a model for the centers based on the vast British experience in dealing with minorities.

The project was implemented in consistency with the municipal program on the equal integration of the minority groups, adopted by the Municipal Council in 2000.

Project implementation began in early 2004. One of the important aspects of the project was the simultaneous work with both Roma children and their parents.

The first module included the establishment of the Roma centers and healthcare consultancies. The repairs were financed by project funds and voluntary labor of the residents of Roma neighborhoods. The grand opening of the Carina Center in Boutan was on June 1, 2004, and that of the Mladost Center in Kozlodui on July 1, 2004.

The centers are staffed by young Romas trained to work with children of pre-school and school age. The purpose is to motivate the children to attend school on a regular basis. Selected activities, such as drawing, reading and educational games, are used to encourage children s interest in acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their talents.

The medical consultancies at the centers provide all residents free consultations on health - related issues, such as venereal diseases, personal and domestic hygiene, infectious diseases, contraceptive measures, etc. The Hygiene and Epidemic Inspectorate in Vratsa and the Bulgarian Family Planning Association provided a lot of materials and visuals that are now available to all residents.

Every holiday is celebrated properly by the children visiting the centers.

For the Christmas and New Year holidays the children from the two centers delivered a special performance to their parents.

On Easter, the children painted eggs and handmade holders for them. The eggs were presented to the Home for Senior Citizens with Physical Disabilities in Kozlodui and the Home for People with Mental Disorders in Boutan.

The second module of the project targeted adult Romas. As the low social status of the parents was stated as one of the reasons for children's absence from school, the purpose of this module was to improve their labor market chances by professional training. To achieve this, licensed training organizations were hired. 96 Romas from the municipalities of Kozlodui and Mizia completed a basic computer literacy course. Five residents of Boutan completed a course for construction workers. The participants in this course demonstrated their newly acquired skills by mounting the flooring in the Carina Center. 14 individuals completed a landscaping course. All participants in the training courses were issued certificates.

The opening of the centers in Kozlodui and Boutan provided opportunities to develop the talents and better fill the free time of the Roma children, both the ones attending school regularly and those who used to spend their days in the streets.

Three jobs were created under the project, two at the Carina Center in Boutan and one at the Mladost Center in Kozlodui.

As a result from the activities of the Mladost Center , five children have returned to school.

The centers became a cosy place that more and more children enjoy visiting .

124 adult Romas completed professional training courses.