Digital Inclusion for Roma Adults:
Gaining Knowledge and Skills in eServices

The DIRA project intends to achieve inclusive societies in which Roma adults enjoy equal rights and access to services and knowledge. Roma adults will benefit from increased knowledge and skills in using digital tools and eServices. Moreover, the project will impact policies on the Roma, establishing cooperation to build a model of good practice for Roma adult education and eServices at local, regional, national and international levels.

The main objective of the project is the improvement of the socio-economic state of Roma adults through IT education and development of digital skills. The project focuses on competences to enable the adult population and socially excluded people to start using electronic services available in their surroundings, and to become better included in their communities and societies. To achieve its objectives, the project implements activities, strengthening Roma adults’ digital skills and use of eServices. These include developing the DIRA learning platform and training material, training of trainers and training the Roma on using the learning platform and eServices, and increasing Romas adults’ language skills. A baseline study was carried out to better understand the needs and skills of Roma adults. Networking, information dissemination and policy recommendations are also part of the project. 

Project results consist of the developed DIRA learning platform, training material and trainings supporting Roma adults’ capacity to use digital tools for eServices and in education. It is expected that the project positively impacts transfer of knowledge within the Roma and encourages them to participate in adult education also in future. DIRA project influences policies and practical work of diverse stakeholders. It also increases knowledge and skills of the participating partner organizations. These are all connected to the goals and activities of the DIRA projects.

The project offers open access to the developed DIRA learning platform and material supporting adult education. THE DIRA is a project that involves five international partners in Italy (Romni-APS), Serbia (UGD), North Macedonia (FICT), North Macedonia (Sumnal) and Finland (DF). Funded by the Erasmus+ program through the Key Action 2, the program offers different countries opportunities to upgrade their knowledge in improvement of the socio economic state of Roma adults via non-formal education.