MUNICIPALITY OF KATERINI / SOCIAL INNOVATION IN ACTION

The Municipality of Katerini has as its primary destination, the social integration of the vulnerable social group of the Roma. For this purpose, it uses financial tools with multiple results for the achievement of this purpose. The Roma living in the Peleka camp amount to 395 people, of which 175 are under 17 years old. The women are 109 and the men are 111.
We have the responsibility to implement an integrated, efficient, fair and sustainable model of social solidarity. We prioritize the organization, policies and actions for vulnerable groups of the population. These include people living in poverty, people with disabilities, the Roma, as well as the elderly and children.
As the Municipalities are the main pillars of the welfare state and having the support of the central government, we use all the tools given to us and provide services of a holistic approach through the Deputy Mayor of Social Protection.

Problem addressed

The strengthening of the visibility of the Roma through all this extroversion caused negative feelings in part of the local society.

Difficulty in finding human resources in a small society to implement individual actions

Innovative solution

We worked for vulnerable groups with vulnerable groups. The success of the synergy of the programs in the Municipality of Katerini has tangible results. We achieved the visibility of vulnerable groups through all outreach actions.Student dropout, social racism and the level of poverty have now been greatly reduced while employment and the acceptance of the local community, have increased.We, also, emphasize to the fight against racism through school awareness campaign.
We create awareness through information campaigns not only to fight racism but also to defend children's rights. We consider it necessary to implement actions where the central axis is the child, defending their rights in the best possible way. We must respect their inalienable right to develop in a healthy and friendly environment.More specifically, we have managed to defend the child's right to equal access to information. We turn them into active citizens. We organize informative workshops concerning the protection of the environment and the rights of every child.

Key results and benefits

In the National Strategy for Social Inclusion the following are reflected, among others, and due to the synergy of all these programs we manage to implement the following: We systematically monitor the risks of dropping out of school and inequalities in access to education at all levels, so that early interventions are possible both in terms of pedagogical assistance and the provision of personalized advice, as well as in terms of extracurricular activities for children and adults. => Increase enrollment in Kindergarten by 70%, in Primary 20% and in High School 50%. => Study of 7 women at the Second Chance School

We support information on health issues and healthy living conditions in Roma camps, through prevention activities, through synergy and here as with Doctors of the World. => full vaccination of all students attending school

Through systematic support and empowerment and after many years of passive benefit policy => 21 Roma of Pelekas were employed in 2022 for 12 months in the Municipality of Katerini through the Community Service Program. Now, for a year and a half, 95 Roma have been employed in a large company in the area.

Strengthening the visibility of the Roma through all these actions.

Potential for mainstreaming

There is always the possibility of further leaps. The solution to the housing problem of the Roma community and the operation of new infrastructure for people with disabilities is our goal for the next day, as long as we want to continuously claim an increasingly inclusive society.