On May 1, 2020, the Roma Education Fund (REF) signed an agreement with the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) to implement a 32-month vocational education project in Albania and Kosovo.
Financed by a EUR 865,000 contribution from Austrian Development Cooperation, together with EUR 107,949 funding from REF and two local project partners, the project Education, Employment, Partnerships and Gender Equality: A Winning Formula for Roma in VET seeks to contribute to social inclusion and poverty reduction of Roma in Albania and Kosovo through support of the vocational education and training, facilitation to labor market and empowering stakeholders to take measures to support transition of Roma to employment.
Through the end of 2022, REF will work together with implementing partners RomaVersitas Albania and RomaVersitas Kosovo to strengthen professional skills of Roma young people aged 14-28 through vocational education, internships, skills development, and cooperation and partnerships with employers. Support will be provided to 300 Roma beneficiaries (50% female), up to 150 in Albania and up to 150 in Kosovo, who will receive a wide range of vocational trainings (VET within secondary education institutions and including scholarships and mentoring support) and obtain recognized certificates, paid professional internships in the public or private sector, or additional education (conducted by accredited institutes, such as vocational courses).
The project’s dual focus on education and employability aims to: 1) increase access to vocational education for Roma youth and young adults, through scholarships, mentoring and tutoring and with a special emphasis on improving access to education and employment for Roma girls and women; and 2) improve the employability for Roma youth and young adults, through job placements, professional development and partnerships of civil society, public and private sector institutions for Roma workforce inclusion aimed at influencing policy changes.
Recruitment, education and trainings will take place in:
Albania – Tirana, Korca, Fier, Elbasan, Gjirokaster, Dures, Berat
Kosovo – Prizren, Gjakova, Gracanica, Ferizaj, Fush Kosova, Prishtina, Peja
For more information, stay tuned to REF’s website and social media for information related to this project.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
