LocationsToday, at the Municipality of Shuto Orizari, the Mayor of Shuto Orizari Municipality Kurto Dudush, the Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme - Anna Chernyshova, and representative of the Delegation of the European Union and other international organizations, the first Resource Centre for Returnees and Other Marginalized Groups was opened.
The Resource Center in Shuto Orizari is planned to serve as a one-stop information hub for citizens, with an initial focus on returnees. The center will provide access to healthcare, social protection, employment, and education while ensuring NGO involvement for legal aid, labor market activation, and administrative support. It will also house municipal offices and be adaptable for public meetings, workshops, and training, ensuring long-term sustainability.
The new Centre, built as a separate, modern, upscaled and energy efficient building covering a surface area of 310 square meters, is expected to reach and benefit around 1,000 Roma returnees from EU countries but will also benefit the entire local population. Ultimately, the facility will enhance coordination among local stakeholders, improve returnees' labor market prospects, and contribute to better overall living conditions.
“Shuto Orizari is the first municipality in the country introducing this model of support for returnees and other vulnerable categories by providing information, direct contact and assistance to the individuals so that they can actively engage in the socio-economic processes in the country. We hope that the other municipalities will follow suit after the example set by our Municipality, meaning that the returnees and other vulnerable groups will get the necessary support to achieve better quality of life in their home country” - emphasized the Mayor of Shuto Orizari, Kurto Dudush.
The Resource Centre, under the jurisdiction of the Municipality, will work in close cooperation with all the line ministries, government bodies and agencies, as well as with the municipal organizations and the non-governmental sector.
The Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme, Anna Chernyshova, highlighted the value of partnerships and cooperation with the local authorities: “The United Nations Development Programme has been working in partnership with the Municipality of Shuto Orizari and our development partner- the EU- to provide adequate mechanisms for the Roma people, as well as any other vulnerable group of citizens, in order to ensure equal opportunities for everyone”.
The establishment and construction of the Resource Centre for Returnees was co-funded by the Municipality of Shuto Orizari and the European Union. “Shuto Orizari is the first municipality in the country introducing this model of support for returnees and other vulnerable categories by providing information, direct contact and assistance to the individuals so that they can actively engage in the socio-economic processes in the country. We hope that the other municipalities will follow suit after the example set by our Municipality, meaning that the returnees and other vulnerable groups will get the necessary support to achieve better quality of life in their home country” - emphasized the Mayor of Shuto Orizari, Kurto Dudush.
The Resource Centre, under the jurisdiction of the Municipality, will work in close cooperation with all the line ministries, government bodies and agencies, as well as with the municipal organizations and the non-governmental sector.
The Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme, Anna Chernyshova, highlighted the value of partnerships and cooperation with the local authorities: “The United Nations Development Programme has been working in partnership with the Municipality of Shuto Orizari and our development partner- the EU- to provide adequate mechanisms for the Roma people, as well as any other vulnerable group of citizens, in order to ensure equal opportunities for everyone”.
The establishment and construction of the Resource Centre for Returnees was co-funded by the Municipality of Shuto Orizari and the European Union.
