Supporting the inclusion of Roma community members in the field of education continues to be
one of the key factors for further development and progress, both individually and within the
entire Roma community. This provides impetus for improving their social integration into
society. When we talk about the Roma minority, it is of utmost importance to provide the
necessary resources for them to have a chance to pursue further education.
Therefore, within the framework of the ROMACTED project – Promoting Good Governance and
Empowering Roma at the Local Level, conducted by the Council of Europe in cooperation with
the European Union and with the support of the Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society,
support has been provided for small initiatives, most of which are aimed at some form of
support and encouragement for further learning.
The municipality of Lebane, as one of the partner municipalities of the ROMACTED program, is
during the second phase implementation of the ROMACTED program together with the Roma
community and its members of Institutional Working Group, as one of the important priorities
in its local action plan recognized the importance of supporting Roma students in their further
education and encouraging them to stay in the school system in different ways.
On that occasion on September 4, 2023, in three schools: O.Š. Radoje Domanović in Bošnjace,
O.Š. Vuk Karadžić, and O.Š. Radovan Kovačević Maksim in the municipality of Lebane, school
supplies such as notebooks, pencils, markers, crayons, pencil cases, rulers, and more were
distributed to 240 students from the first to the eighth grade of primary school. Additionally,
backpacks were provided for first and second-grade students.
During this visit, representatives from the Council of Europe, the Foundation BFPE for a
Responsible Society, and the Municipality of Lebane discussed the needs and further
development with teaching staff, pedagogical staff assistants, and students.
„Everything I received is great, and I got a lot of new things that I will definitely use to study
better and learn new things. Thank you so much for coming and bringing us all of this“ said one
of the student in the conversation.
