TELUS International supported the Amalipe Center project against domestic violence

TELUS International Bulgaria Community Board voted to fund selected socially significant projects in support of Bulgarian communities affected by COVID-19. A total of 244 projects competed in the two open calls for applications this year. The main focus of the evaluation is the effectiveness of the projects and their positive impact on local communities as well as the opportunity to run the project during a pandemic situation. The Community Board supported eight projects to be funded totaling the amount of BGN 95,663. The focus of the board evaluation is the effectiveness of the projects and the set goals, their positive impact on local communities and the possibility to implement them in a pandemic situation.

One of the projects selected by Telus was proposed by the Amalipe Center. It is aimed at preventing domestic violence, which various data show has increased significantly during social isolation. “Turning the page: prevention of domestic violence and harmful traditional practices in the Roma community” is a 6-month initiative, which plans to:

• Survey among the Roma community on domestic violence.
• There will be six talks / open lessons / discussions in a Roma community or neighborhood about “Prevention of Domestic Violence”, or what it is, what are the rights of victims of domestic violence and who can they turn to in such a case.
• Six awareness campaigns to increase the sensitivity and public intolerance of domestic violence; information on protection institutions and procedures; services and programs for victims of violence and encouraging attitudes to report cases of domestic violence.
• Preparation of educational video material by students volunteers on domestic violence in the Roma community.
• Organizing 50 school educational discussions with the materials created within the project
• other information activities.

We, at the Amalipe Center, hope through this project to help raise awareness about domestic violence, institutions and protection procedures; recognizing and responding to domestic violence. We want to mobilize the community to contribute to the prevention of violence and to influence the understanding that men have the right to abuse their wives / partners and to build sensitivity to any form of violence. Our goal is to activate witnesses to be active and alert, as well as to change the community’s conservative order regarding women’s rights – to get an education, to choose a partner, to work, to seek help, to separate / divorce with their partner, etc.
And above all, victims of violence to gain the confidence to recognize and respond to violence, regardless of its form.

Thanks to Telus International Bulgaria for the support!