Nyirbator

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Nyírbátor is located in the south-east part of the Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County. The municipality has experienced an upward trend in its economic development in the past few years with the relocation of multinational companies. The Roma minority which represents roughly 30 % of the 12.000 inhabitants of Nyírbátor did not benefit from this development, mainly because of the low level of qualification, and lives in a segregated settlement. The Roma population in Nyírbátor is therefore characterized by deep poverty and spatial exclusion, including segregation in schools.

Nyírbátor joined ROMED with the signature of the Letter of Commitment by the Mayor on 7 March 2014. The Roma CAG was set up with the help of the facilitator in February 2014. The core group is composed of 6 women, either community workers or unemployed. After 5 monthly meetings including capacity building trainings, such as the training by NDI/TLI in which two members of the CAG participated, the CAG met with the LA in June 2014. This was the first time that a forum gathered Roma community members and LA to tackle Roma issues. After three of these meetings and the election of a new Mayor, common development needs were defined: garbage collection, school segregation and prevention of addiction for Roma and non-Roma youth.