Description
The population of Luna Commune in Romania is faced with a number of challenges related to the risk of Roma children dropping out of school. Most Roma children do not get to complete secondary school, abandoning school after 5 years. The main objective of the project is to develop support services to diminish the early school dropout rate for 75 children, by setting up a community educational center in which the target group will be assisted by a program that includes meals, educational activities, recreational and social activities, counseling and school guidance for children and counseling activities and parental education for their parents. The project builds on the partnership between relevant stakeholders in the Luna village - local authorities, an NGO with experience in the field, and also the secondary school, the staff of which will be trained to acquire knowledge and the right attitude to address the specific needs of this target group.
Summary of project results
The project was implemented by Luna Commune, Cluj County, in partnership with a Roma NGO, Association for Promoting Social Inclusion and Gymnasium School Luna, from Luna Commune. The project aimed to facilitate children access to integrate services, formal and non-formal education within the community educational center rehabilitated in the project period, in order to reduce school dropout. A number of 79 children (out of which 68 Roma) were involved in formal and non-formal activities, such as: after school activities, supervised and tutored by teachers and a Romanian language and a Mathematics professor, recreational and social inclusion activities and psychological counselling. Monthly they had common activities in order to encourage their social integration. Also, 69 children participated at an educational trip, at the nearby sight-sees, in order to be taught environmental education elements. The 10 specialists which worked directly with the children were trained during a non-formal session about ”Inclusive education in Roma communities”, they were trained to use specific strategies applied to teaching process in multi-ethnic environment. For the 88 parents there were provided parenting education lessons and counselling and they were involved in weekly meetings with the community facilitator and the local authorities in order to facilitate and increase their social inclusion. During the implementing period, the project was visible through promoting activities, such as web site promoting, local media, promoting materials and a door to door campaign within the community. Throughout the project, children at risk were helped to reduce their educational gaps in order to facilitate their social integration by providing them all the human capital and materials needed, including a hot meal at the educational center created.
Summary of bilateral results