The National Assembly President Tsetska Tsacheva and the US Ambassador to Bulgaria James Warlick have opened the Fifth Internship Program for Young Roma at the National Assembly. Ten young people of Roma origin will study the work of the institution in the course of two months. Up to now 40 young Roma have taken part in the program.

At the opening the chair of the National Assembly, Tsetska Tsacheva, underscored that the parliament is one of the leading institutions in applying the EU initiative “Decade of Roma Inclusion” by carrying out this student program. She added that the program has become a tradition. She explained that to the best performing participant will be given a permanent position and an opportunity for professional development at the parliament and mentioned the fact that the previous day the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has chosen Bulgaria to announce that USA will join the initiative “Decade for Roma Inclusion” as an official observer.

The US Ambassador James Warlick stressed that it has been a great honor for Hillary Clinton to meet with young and talented Roma professionals. According to the Ambassador, the meeting had given Hillary Clinton confidence that the Roma integration could happen. He greeted the present and past participants in the program.

The “Open Society” Executive Director Georgi Stoychev said there were 3 applicants competing for each spot in the program.  He added the society needs such a program, because the Roma community is still not proportionally represented in the political life of the country. 

The National Assembly’s Internship Program for young Roma is held for fifth consecutive year. It is carried out with the assistance of the “Open Society” Institute of Bulgaria and the National Democratic Institute of the United States. Forty young Roma from all over Bulgaria have taken part in the program so far.