The scholarship program for Roma women studying to become nurses and midwives aims to activate Roma women in the labor market by supporting them to continue their education in a medical specialty. Increasing the number of Roma nurses and midwives will not only address the acute shortage of nurses in Bulgaria but will also create inspiring role models for young people from the Roma community.
The program seeks to create positive role models who actively support their communities and the families of the women who are helped to achieve economic independence through their participation in the labor market.
The program targets women in their mid-twenties whose children are already in school and who strongly wish to remain in their communities and contribute to their development, as well as younger girls from very poor families and communities.
- What support does the scholarship program provide?
Preparatory courses. Selected candidates receive university entrance preparation over a six-month period, during which they work with a teacher who prepares them for the entrance exams required by medical universities in Bulgaria. - Annual scholarship. Scholars receive financial support to cover expenses related to attending university classes, paying semester tuition fees, and purchasing study materials.
- Mentorship support. Women in the program are paired with a mentor who works with them monthly and provides support related to understanding and mastering academic material, guidance for career development, and maintaining motivation to continue their education. Mentors include university lecturers or Roma medical professionals already working in the healthcare system, some of whom were themselves scholarship recipients in this or another program.
- Internships or volunteer initiatives. Scholars receive support to complete internships within the activities of the home-visiting Nurse-Family Partnership or assistance in organizing thematic volunteer initiatives related to their field of study.
- Academic support. On a monthly basis, a coordinator provides assistance in resolving administrative issues and difficulties with university administration, as well as guidance for successfully passing exam sessions and other academic requirements.
- Annual meetings. Scholars are given the opportunity each year to gather with all program participants to exchange experiences from the past academic year, as well as personal experiences, challenges, and achievements.
.jpg)
Why a scholarship program for Roma nurses and midwives?
Bulgaria is experiencing an acute shortage of nurses. The nursing workforce is aging, with an average age of 49, and an estimated 45% of current nurses are expected to retire within the next 10–15 years, making this field one with high potential for career development. In 2019, the average share of nurses and midwives in the total workforce across the EU was 2.2%, while Bulgaria had the lowest share of all countries—1.1%. A report by the Association of Health Care Professionals found that Bulgaria needs an additional 35,000 nurses to meet the clinical doctor-to-nurse ratio of 1:2 prescribed by medical standards.
At the same time, there is a significant number of Roma women who are inactive in the labor market and who could be supported to continue their education as nurses. Increasing the number of Roma nurses and midwives will not only solve an important national healthcare challenge but will also create inspiring role models for young people in the Roma community. Moreover, focusing on career development in the specific area of home visits for pregnant women and infants will, in the long term, contribute to a motivated and experienced workforce of nurses of Roma origin. They can be engaged in one of the most promising approaches to addressing maternal and child health problems among families living in poverty.
There is a strong need to expand home-visiting support in order to reach the most vulnerable Roma families, where high child mortality reaches up to 20 per 1,000 live births. Children often experience growth delays, a high prevalence of respiratory problems, high levels of iron-deficiency anemia, premature births, limited access to pediatricians, low immunization coverage, a high proportion of newborns with low birth weight, unhealthy infant-feeding practices, risky behaviors among expectant mothers (such as smoking), and insecure living conditions.
The scholarship program also addresses the low number of Roma completing higher education—less than 1% pursue university studies compared to 30% of the general population. These figures are linked to various factors, including lower motivation due to discrimination, limited access to quality education and teacher support, and financial barriers.
The educational gap among Roma youth in Bulgaria also results in a shortage of highly educated role models, especially for adolescents in the community. Creating positive role models by supporting Roma women in the program to continue their education in a field they have dreamed of studying—and turning it into a profession—will help prevent school dropout among Roma youth. It will motivate them to continue their education and see a viable alternative to early marriage.
At present, we support 32 women studying to become nurses and midwives. Since the beginning of the program, 49 women have participated in program activities, six of whom have already graduated as midwives and nurses and are working in Bulgarian hospitals in the communities where they live.