Context Roma people form Europe’s largest ethnic minority and have for centuries constituted an integral part of the European society. But despite efforts at national and European level to improve the protection of their fundamental rights and the advance in their social integration, many Roma still face severe poverty, profound social exclusion, barriers to exercising their fundamental rights and discrimination. These problems affect their access to quality education, which, in turn, undermines their employment and income prospects, housing conditions and health status, curbing their overall ability to fully exploit their potential. Improving the educational situation of Roma is a critical test of the EU’s ability to achieve progress in the inclusion of all extremely marginalised and socially excluded groups. Within this context, the participation of Roma in adult learning has continued to fall, from 9,8 % of the 25-64 years old population in 2005 to only 9,1 % in 2020, thus failing to achieve the increased “ET2020” target.Objectives ObjectivesRoma Plus project aims at the development of a new thriving peer learning experience for Adult (low-literate) Roma, increasing attractiveness of training and reducing drop-out rates, while enhancing the skills and competences of adult Trainers/Teachers in the use of new adult training techniques, tailored to the Roma cultural background.The primary objective, is going to be achieved, through two supplementary objectives:1. Development of OER for adult educators working with Adult Roma with low literacy, to enhance their relevant competences.2. Development of peer learning material that will target low literate Roma Adults, creating a learning experience that will increase their literacy skills and number and profile of participants; • Adult Roma population that is going to participate in the peer learning activities to increase their literacy level (60) • Roma Representatives and associations that are going to undertake the role of disseminating the peer learning process to the Roma population, attracting beneficiaries and participants for the implementation of the activities (3) • Adult Trainers/Teachers that are working/delivering training to Adult Roma that show a low-level of functional literature and are in need of upskilling, in order to achieve social inclusion and increase their well-being in local and regional societies (10). • Adult training providers that target vulnerable groups with cultural background and need new ideas and training resources to deliver upskilling of adult Roma populations (6) • Grass-root NGOs that are working with valnurable groups and support Roma Assocations to increase social inclusion of Roma at a local and regional level (6) • Stakeholders at regional/national level who are responsible for the social inclusion of Roma at a National Level, with policies that include upskilling and new learning opportunities for the adult Roma population (6).Activities /ActivitiesIn Roma Plus, based on the Needs Analysis and the identification of the Project Objectives and Results to be achieved, we have prepared a coherent project implementation plan, that includes: • 3 Intellectual Outputs, • 1 Joint Staff Training Event • 4 Transnational Meetings, including the Kick-Off Meeting and the Final Conference • 4 Multiplier Events, including a final ConferenceResultsR1: Increased knowledge of the new adult training methodologies with a specific focus on groups with vultural background (Adult Roma) R2: Individuals are going to be have a better understanding of the available training material and the peer learning activities.R3: Increased acceptance of the Adult Roma Population through their increase in literacy skills.R4: Higher use of the OER produced during IO1 by adult trainers/teachersR5: Higher promotion and awareness raised on the Adult Roma upskilling necesity and process is going to be achieved R6: Active involvement of stakeholders (Roma Associations/representatives) from all relevant areas (local, Regional, National even EU level), and promotion of the cooperation among adult education providers and individual (Adult Roma learners) in the upskilling of their literacy skills is going to be achievedImpact • A higher level of quality in literacy training, through the establishment of OER and our developed peer learning experience. • Increased awareness and visibility of Europass among stakeholders • Roma Representing Associations are going to have the opportunity to expand their awareness on the importance of literacy among the Roma Population and participate in a new thriving learning experience for upskilling their literacy levels.Long Term BenefitsThrough the implementation of the project the Triangle between the Republic of North Macedonia, Greece and Bulgaria is going to strengthen its cultural, social and other connections, increasing prosperity for all and beyond the Adult Roma.

Roma communities are considered as one of the most socially vulnerable groups at EU wide level, suffering from multiple marginalization risks and being discriminated against by the general public. Roma women usually suffer from what in academic bibliography is called double discrimination: because of their cultural heritage and because they are women.The situation of Roma women at all levels affecting social integration (education, employment, economic situation, living conditions) is far worse compared with men. Indicatively, based on FRA more women than men are unable to read or write, with the differences in the rates of illiterates between men and women above 16 years of age to the whole population being 12% in Romania, 8% in Spain and 12% in Greece. Regarding employment, based on FRA the share of Roma men whose main activity is ‘in employment’ is consistently higher than that of Roma women. Across all surveyed countries, more than twice as many Roma men were in employment than Roma women. The situation is similar also for Northern Macedonia. According to the Strategy for Roma in Republic of Macedonia 2014-2020, unemployment among Roma is almost twice as high as the national average and even higher among Roma women. The same for education; although the completion of primary and secondary education is a legal requirement, noticeable deviations are existent towards Roma girls.The proposed project (PROMA) focuses on the adult education stream by aiming to foster the integration of Roma women in their local communities through education in the form of practical local programmes, which is the main objective of the project. Specific objectives include: a) utilizing the competitive advantages and social promoting vehicles of the local context in all 4 implementing countries; b) building the capacities of formal & non formal educators of Roma women; c) design & implementation of local pilot programmes aiming at social inclusion of Roma women through education jointly by educators and Roma women. PROMA is going to be implemented in 4 countries with dense Roma populations (Romania, Spain, Greece, North Macedonia) and involves 2 groups of participants: formal & non formal educators of Roma women and Roma women. 40 formal & non formal educators of Roma women and 100 Roma women will be involved in the implementation of PROMA, which includes the following activities:-Identifying pathways to integration (needs’ assessment)-Development of the capacity building programme for formal and non-formal educators working with Roma women-Pilot delivery of the capacity building programme for formal and non-formal educators supporting Roma women-Design and implementation of pilot programmes aiming at the integration of Roma women at local levelMoreover, 3 open days will be implemented (in Spain, Greece & North Macedonia), along with an international conference (in Romania) for introducing the project to a wide audience.The methodological approach of PROMA follows the logic model, with the implementation unfolding in 3 phases: a) study of the background and relevant good practices; b) design of the capacity building programme and the supporting tools; c) pilot delivery of the capacity building programme and implementation of the local pilot programmes promoting the inclusion of Roma women through education.Main outcomes of PROMA-An innovative methodology fostering the social inclusion of Roma women will be introduced, utilizing adult education as vehicle, following a locally-based context and promoting local pilot programmes jointly designed and implemented by Roma women and formal & non formal educators of Roma women-The capacities of 40 formal & non formal educators of Roma women in the 4 implementing countries will be developed in terms of implementing the developed methodology for the social inclusion of Roma women-At least 100 Roma women in the 4 implementing countries will have their skills and competences built by participating to the local pilot programmes-Local pilot programmes aiming at social inclusion of Roma women through education will be implemented jointly by educators and Roma women in the 4 implementing countriesExpected project results & envisaged impact:-Formal & non formal educators of Roma women are equipped with a new methodology and trained in order to better respond to the special and particular educational challenges that Roma women face preventing their integration in local communities-Roma women are more engaged in following educational initiatives at local level aiming at their social inclusion, as well as have their skills and competences increased-The level of acceptance of Roma women where the pilots have taken place has improved and cases of racist or phobic phenomena against Roma have dropped-Social cohesion levels in the local communities where the local pilot programmes have taken place have elevated and the level of integration of Roma women in those communities has increased

"<< Background >>EU strategic framework of 2020-2030 emphasizes that the three pillars approach (i.e equality, inclusion and participation) can support the active citizenship of Roma communities, as well as can enhance their democratic participation in their countries. Nevertheless, when looking at EU-MIDIS I survey results most Roma adult respondents (82 %) are not aware of any such organisation in their country of residence. Based on the above, RESTORE project underlines the need of fostering civic engagement of Roma adults in their local communities, bringing them closer to EU values and ideas of union and diversity. The following needs are being addressed: lack of Roma’s civic engagement into their local communities(N1),difficulty of Roma adults to be provided with upskilling pathways(N2),discrimination barriers of local communities towards Roma minorities(N3),gap of low-skilled adult trainers concerning the provision of tailored-made civic training(N4), lack of appropriate knowledge regarding the civic educational models that are existing in the EU and can be related to a notable increase of civic engagement of Roma(N5).<< Objectives >>O1: Fostering democratic participation of at least 15 Roma adults (per country) into their local communities ;O2: Motivating at least 15 Roma adults (per country) to be informed about their rights and responsibilities into their own country of residence;O3: Providing Roma adults with the appropriate upskilling pathways related to civic education;O4: Offering local communities with at least 15 policy recommendations on how to launch a holistic civic engagement inclusive approach related to Roma’s democratization and local participation;O5: Connecting at least 10 European Organizations Roma adults, through the formulation of a training programme related to civic engagement and democratic participation.<< Implementation >>MAIN ACTIVITIES -P1 Identification of civic educational models for democratic participation of Roma adults-P2 Design and delivery of an OER capacity building programme tailored to the civic skill gaps of Roma adults: ""Social Pathways for civic engagement of Roma adults in the EU""-P3 Delivery of policy suggestions regarding civic engagement of Roma adults at EU level<< Results >>MAIN OUTPUTS AND RESULTS R.1. Introduction of an interractive map, which will cover issues related to unity, diversity and cultural herritage, inspiring the target group to get to know the european values; R.2. Incorporation of Role models, who will teach in a way Roma adults on how to be adapted in the local environment, as well as helped them in the democratization process; R3: The creation of a holistic OER training programme for Roma adults, in view of covering issues related to self-awareness,dialogue and reflection etc.; R4: The formulation and delivery of a mobile app connected to the OER programme for Roma adults, in view of making it accessible 24 hours a day. R5: The identification of civic educational models, which will guide them into choose how the training programme will be better served to Roma adults; R6: The delivery of a support repository which will cover civic learning practices and offer extra training resources; R7: The evaluation of the training programme, resulted to a holistic report of policy recommendations related to the best civic engagement approach towards Roma adults"