OPEN DOORS, Albania organization in collaboration with EPEKA, Slovenia  association are implementing the project “Youth Against Antigypsyism (YAA)”. This project  is a project funded by the European Youth Foundation and is run by a consortium of 6 Roma-oriented organizations from COE countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Italy and Albania) and will gather youth from 8 countries (in addition to the consortium members also youth from Montenegro and Serbia).

The project’s geographical scope is focused on the regions with strong Roma minorities and a plethora of tensions resulting from unconstructive phenomena such as antigypsyism, discrimination and fewer opportunities as a result of the above. The project consortium conceived the proposal around the needs of three key target groups.

Firstly, youth who are already active in the fields of active citizenship, minority rights and fighting discrimination. Secondly, young members of the Roma minority, 3 especially women, who are already relatively active or show a tendency to increase their social participation and expand their social circles and who are prepared to act as project ambassadors during and after the project life-time. Thirdly, Roma youth who might benefit greatly from inclusion in international activities and projects in the future. Building on the rich heritage of past projects targeting the Roma minority YAA will produce a toolkit aimed at transferring good practices and introduction of new strategies of Roma youth inclusion. The toolkit will be created by the project team, experts and activity participants.

The preparatory meeting of this project “Youth against Antigypsyism”, funded by Council of Europe, took place in Opatija, Croatia, from 6 th -8 th March 2019. In this important meeting, leaders of partner organizations discusses on the smooth & successful implementation of the project.