Sliven, Bulgaria Works Toward a Greener Environment for Roma Children
In the Bulgarian city of Sliven, the neighborhood of Nadezhda is essentially isolated from the other parts of the city via a concrete wall and railway. The majority of Sliven’s Roma population lives in this neighborhood, and much of this area lacks green spaces, sports facilities, proper infrastructure, playgrounds and accessible drinking water and sanitation. Consequently, levels of education are low, and many children here lack a safe and green environment, which leads to a poorer socioeconomic future, further compounding the structural disadvantage that Roma people face across Europe.
The MARIO program (Minorities, Accountability, Rights, Independence and Organisational Development) implemented by the Foundation for Hope (Za Nadejda) approaches the problem of environmental injustice by planning and advocating for new green spaces across the city. Their vision includes both Roma and non-Roma children and youth from the city. The project is off to a promising start. The program held various activities for children to explore nature and ecology, and the next phase of the project will include a visit to urban green infrastructure.
Children living in poverty have a challenging time conceiving a new greenspace or park, which necessitates a vivid imagination, but the Foundation for Hope teamed up with a local school, Bratya Miladinovi to organize sessions aimed at introducing new concepts, such as ecology and nature preservation, to the children.
The MARIO project is funded by the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values Programme and is being implemented by a partner organization of Minority Rights Group International. More information about the project can be found on their website.
