On 23rd January 2024, the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization hosted the final event of the project "Mobilization and development of the Roma community - a step forward". At the meeting in Novi Sad, activists, representatives of associations and individuals working to improve the life of Roma in Serbia gathered.

Six local initiatives and small projects implemented in six cities in Serbia were presented at the meeting.

Local initiatives for the development of the Roma community were presented by: Dejan Raimović from the Center for a Secure Future of the Roma from Surdulica, Svetlana Lazović from the Interactive Global Center from Kragujevac, Ivana Milosavljević from the Women's Association "Orašac" from Arandjelovac, Zdravka Simić from the Center for the Development of the Roma Community "Amaro drom" from Smederevska Palanka, Željka Nikolić from the association "Crna dama" from Novi Sad and Živka Fan from the Roma Women's Initiative from Žabalj.

The project "Food and Intercultural Stand", presented by Zdravka Simić, was implemented in Smederevska Palanka and was aimed at promoting Roma culture and tradition, especially Roma cuisine.

Project activities carried out by Roma organizations represent a step forward towards improving the position of Roma in Serbia, and highlight the importance of local initiatives and cooperation between organizations dealing with issues of the Roma community.

After the presentation of local initiatives, professor Zoran Pavlović gave a lecture on social justice and human rights. He pointed out that it is important that Roma and non-Roma live in interaction, because, as he said: "It is important to include people and institutions in education in order to jointly work on the prevention of problems in the domain of discrimination."

The meeting ended with a discussion about future perspectives, discussed by Slađana Jovanović, project coordinator from the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization.She announced a three-year project that will be aimed at Roma girls and women, the implementation of which will begin in February 2024.