OPPA, January 2010 - December 2011

Unemployed Roma in Prague can still join a project which supports their education and opportunities in the labor market. This can help them change their lives and find suitable jobs.

NGOs Slovo 21 and ROMEA organize a comprehensive project for unemployed Roma in Prague. It is designed for local Roma who would like to enter the labor market, as well as Prague employers and small Romany NGOs.

The main goal is to improve the position of disadvantaged people – in this case Roma in Prague – in the labor market and increase their long-term employment rate. The project follows in the previous activity “Supporting Roma in Prague” carried out in 2005 – 2008 as a part of the EQUAL program.

The target group is Prague Roma who are preparing for new jobs or trying to return to the labor market. The project is open for 210 participants, and approximately 150 are expected to finish it successfully.

There were 141 participants before the end of 2010. This year, we’ve already registered 215 participants and we believe it is a great achievement!

Key activities are: assistance of little Romany NGOs in job searching, re-training programs, motivation courses, mediating jobs and job offers.

Assistance of little Romany NGOs in job searching

NGO Slovo 21 coordinates this activity for Prague Roma, who can benefit from assistance of trained assistants helping them to understand the labor market and find a suitable re-training course.
There are two key stages. Firstly, we trained 10 assistants in March 2010 and provided them with information about all project activities and opportunities for the target group. The following stage is an ongoing activity: personal assistance for Prague Roma in the employment process. Assistants directly address Roma who are interested in jobs or training and work with them individually – analyze their needs, “guide” them and help them on all stages of the job searching process. Assistants also monitor participants’ attendance and motivate them to finish the project.

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Tel.: + 420 222 518 554

Re-training courses

Prague Roma aged 19 – 50 have an opportunity to attend training courses. The type and extent of the course will be selected together with assistants based on participants’ preferences as well as the situation in the job market.

This activity is organized by Slovo 21 and it responds to the fact that the marginal position of Roma in the labor market is caused by their low education or no training. Furthermore, there have been no systematic devices to monitor situation within the Prague Roma community. Projects assistants help to find what kinds of training are attractive for Roma, while monitoring the current labor market in Prague at the same time. It is expected that up to 60 Roma will start training courses (men and women, aged 19-50) and 30 are expected to complete the program.

Following types of courses have been opened: cooking, welding, forklift truck driving, masseur course, English language course, waiter/bartender.
There is currently a new course offered: social worker.

If you are interested in these or other courses, please contact us.

e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel.: + 420 222 518 554