Description
The project ”Big brother: Mentorship for roma youth” represents the solution that the Foundation ”Together” Agency for Community Development found to the educational system quality in Romanian schools, schools with a large number of Roma students. Thus, Together Agency is proposing to increase the educational performances and self esteem of 120 roma students, from Bucharest-Ilfov region, for 18 months. Following the project activities, a total of 120 roma youths will participate to the proposed project activities, of which 20 roma students will work as mentors for 100 roma high school students. In turn, 100 roma high school students will increase their academic performances and will serve as role models for the rest of community. At the end of the project, it will be elaborated a good practice guide. Regarding the beneficiary group, it will be composed of 120 roma youths, 20 roma students and 100 roma high school students.
Summary of project results
Regarding the children / young Roma people in Romania, one problem they face is the quality of education that they benefit. Most times when education is discussed with Roma children and youth, they are only talking about their access, but not about the quality of the system. The study “A perfect ten school? The access of Roma children to quality education”, carried out by the Promoter, has demonstrated that as you increase the percentage of Roma children in a school, quality material facilities available - such as specialized laboratories or halls, sports grounds and the likelihood that the school has its own library - decrease, and if they exist, the number of books per student in the school library is proportionally smaller where there is a larger percentage of Roma students in the school. Moreover, the study showed that schools with a significant amount of Roma students have less qualified teachers and school counsellors employed. According to the research report and public policy recommendation "Education smiles at us all!", fear of discrimination, discriminatory attitudes of peers or teachers, expectations and negative experiences in primary or secondary education, lack of monitoring of the degree of integration and specific issues faced by assigning seating in class are the most problematic issues minority youth face. The mentoring program consisted, among others, in meetings between the mentors (20 young Roma mentors involved in the program) and the mentees (100 youngsters) on themes and topics such as developing leadership and coaching activities, the importance of education for the process of personal and professional development and also for fighting against discrimination. Other activities developed in the mentoring programs were: watching motivational movies, debates, free discussions, and attending different types of socio-cultural events. Also, the mentors organised a set of meetings where they invited different personalities, possible role models, people that had difficulties early in their life and who succeeded eventually through education so that mentees could learn from them and share experiences with. Throughout the process, the mentors noticed an increased number of questions among mentees related to continuing studies, universities (Sociology and Social Assistance Faculty, Academy of Economic Studies, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport etc.) or about documents and forms necessary for getting accepted in in one of them.
Summary of bilateral results