Description
The Romanian village of Zmeu has a Roma population of 732 people. The fact that the Roma community is located at the outskirts of the village, with a lack of access to services and infrastructure, puts the children and youth at risk of social exclusion. The Roma community are largely absent from school and results are below the required minimum. Many Roma pupils are repeating school years and there is, in general, a low level of education among community members. Parents working abroad, poor hygiene, and lack of activities for children and young people exacerbate the problem. The project aims to increase school attendance, improve outcomes and prevent dropout for 50 Roma children, at risk of early school leaving. The project is expected to achieve the following results: establishing of a daycare center, where 50 Roma children, along with 60 parents and other family members of the children will be involved in educational activities; 15 specialists and volunteers who work directly with Roma children to be trained, and 1 awareness and information campaign on health and importance of education addressed to Roma community to be launched.
Summary of project results
The project was implemented in Romanian village Zmeu from Lungani Commune, Iasi County, a small community with 732 Roma population number, with children and youth at risk of social exclusion due to the fact that Roma community is located at the outskirts of the village, with a lack of access to services and infrastructure, including school. The Roma community was identified as largely absent from school and results are below the required minimum, with many Roma pupils repeating school years and a low level of education among community members. Parents working abroad, poor hygiene, and lack of activities for children and young people exacerbated the problem. The project main objective was to increase school attendance, to improve outcomes and to prevent dropout for 50 Roma children, at risk of early school leaving, with the following results: establishing of a daycare center, where 50 Roma children, along with 60 parents and other family members of the children to be involved in educational activities; 15 specialists and volunteers who work directly with Roma children to be trained, and 1 awareness and information campaign on health and importance of education addressed to Roma community to be launched. At the end of this project, the day center provides services for 50 Roma children, who are direct beneficiaries of educational activities at the day center, food, school supplies etc. The children also participated in organized school trips. Counselling meetings on hygiene or health were organized for the parents of the Roma community.
Summary of bilateral results