Avena and Bright Future, civic organizations working with the Roma in Kocani, presented their child inclusion program in the Pavlina Veljanova kindergarten, on the occasion of April 8, the International Romani Day.
"The project for inclusion of Roma children currently covers 25 kids between the ages of 2 and 6. This projects has been in place for ten years and there is great interest among young Roma parents", said kindergarten principal Lidija Eftimova. The goal is to increase the interaction between the Roma community and the ethnic Macedonian community in Kocani through mixed education.
The organizations also prepared traditional Roma dishes such as sarma, leaks pie and baklava, and traditional crafts, including weaving baskets and rope-making. To mark the day, a football match between Roma and Macedonian kids from the Kocani elementary schools will also be organized.