Description
Hudesti municipality has a total population of 6460 inhabitants, many of which are facing social exclusion and poverty. One of the most vulnerable areas is Baranca where 776 Roma are living in more than 50 households. The project focuses on the inclusion of the Roma and aims at creating a viable partnership between the school, the parents, the teachers, the pupils and the local authorities in order to ensure a higher level of education within the community. The activities, which will take place in school, shall be developed on three distinct layers: one addressed to 80 Roma children aged between 7 and 15, one addressed to 40 parents/legal tutors (parental counseling) and one addressed to 15 teachers (trainings in order to learn about instruments and methods used in preventing violence at school). The project envisages to improve participation of vulnerable children in education activities and to generate long term positive effects on the target group.
Summary of project results
Baranca village is part of Hudești Commune (Botoșani County) where an isolated Roma community lives. This isolation, aggravated by the lack of infrastructure, raises additional problems, such as lack of constant income, caused by predominantly inconstant agriculture activities, economic migration etc. In these circumstances, it is crucial to provide education to Roma children so that they are able to break out the circle of poverty. According to local authorities data, there were 27 instances of illiteracy, while most of adult Roma community members have completed maximum 4 classes, consequently not being able to assist their children in education. The project aimed to support participation in education of Roma childen from Baranca village (Hudești Commune). Within the primary and secondary school from Baranca village, an educational centre has been equipped by the project. A number of 100 children, all Roma, have benefitted from an integrated programme of prevention of school abandonment, by remedial education activities, non-formal education – debates on certain topics, creative writing, social-educational animation, workshops for promoting a healthy lifestyle, excursions, sport competitions etc. 50 parents, all Roma, have received parental counselling, they have got involved in education activities with their children, becoming aware of the role of education. A number of 25 teachers and specialists working with children have been trained to fight against violence and bullying in school. Several partnerships have been concluded at local level: 1 partnership between parents, pedagogues, school counsellors, representatives of local authority, of the church, with the goal of promoting social inclusion; an NGO of parents of at risk children has been established, with the goal of organising and getting involved in social inclusion activities; community information activities regarding the risks of social exclusion of Roma pupils. The project contributed to maintaining in school and improving school performance of Roma children from Baranca village and increasing the degree of involvement of parents in the educational process of their children.
Summary of bilateral results