European support for nearly 60 Roma people: Learning a trade to find a job
More than 1,200 Roma people registered as unemployed last year, and a lack of professional qualifications remains one of the main barriers to finding a job. The European programme “EU4Youth” supports their integration into the labour market by offering them the chance to learn a trade such as tailoring or pastry-making. At present, around 60 people are taking part in these courses.
Sara Căldare would like to become a seamstress. She did not attend a vocational school, but the “EU4Youth” programme gives her the chance to achieve this dream.
“For me, the most difficult part was organizing my schedule so I could attend the courses and find time for them. I managed to sew skirts and bags, and I learned how to sew zippers. We receive 5,600 lei per month, which helps us,” said Sara Căldare for Moldova 1.
Maria Ciurari has never had a job. To be able to work, she is taking sewing courses.
“I did not go to school when I was a child, I did not want to. In our community, that is a tradition. But now I am very happy that such a programme exists and that I can learn. Mrs. Valentina taught me how to sew pockets and cut fabric”, said another beneficiary, Maria Ciurari.
“There is already a list of 12 people who have enrolled, in case this project is extended so they can also receive training. At first they hesitated, but now they go with joy, they meet, they work, I have seen the items they have sewn, and the teacher helps them,” said Elena Rădiță, community mediator in Râșcani.
Over the past year, only 64 Roma people managed to find employment, representing just over 5% of the total registered unemployed Roma population. Most of those employed are between 35 and 49 years old, and nearly half come from rural areas.
“The main reason is that many of them do not have a profession. This is shown by statistics on Roma community members registered with the National Employment Agency—80 to 90 percent have no qualification, and in this context it is very difficult to offer a job to such a person,” said Ana Gherganov, Head of the Employment Policies Department at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection for Moldova 1.
In the past two years, the “EU4Youth” programme has supported more than 1,900 young people seeking employment.
