January, 2020 – October, 2022
Berane, Montenegro

The Association EPEKA, Soc. Ent., with the support of Ministry of External Affairs Montenegro, started implementing a project of international development cooperation “Economic and Social Empowerment of Roma and Egyptian Women in Berane” (ESORE). The project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.Project will be carried out together with a Slovenian Youth Cooperative EPEKA, Soc. Ent., and with the partners from Montenegro – Pedagogic Center of Montenegro, Association Human – Rrom and EPEKA Montenegro.

Goal of the project is to raise employment of Roman and Egyptian women in Montenegro, especially in the Berane municipality in the Northern region, by building their competences and encouraging entrepreneurship. Northern part of Montenegro is surrounded by scarcely populated mountain areas and was severely struck by the collapse of the heavy industry in the 90s which in turn led to severe economic and social crisis and intense emigration. Northern part of Montenegro is marked by high unemployment rates and they are more likely to be exposed to poverty, above the national average and it’s higher among females. The target group of the project will be women belonging to Roma and Egyptian community, between the ages of 18 and 65. Because of multiple discrimination they face, they belong to the target group, which is mostly long-term unemployed and with limited existing knowledge and competences.

As a part of the project we will hold 21 lectures related to the basic competences and 3 related to environmentalism, to which we’ll include 50 individuals. In Berane we will establish a social-entrepreneurship incubator, which will support members of the target group during the project and also after the project. Project will have positive effects through newly gained competences and skills of participants and changes as well as changes in awareness regarding rights of women of Roma and Egyptian communities. The latter will be additionally supported by a far-reaching media campaign.

Project duration: 1st January 2020 – 15th October 2022

International Development Cooperation

The project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.

The Association EPEKA, Soc. Ent., is supported by: