Description
The Romanian educational system is currently facing new challenges in reintegrating children coming back to Romania after a period spent in another country. For many, this has been an experience causing problems of adaption and feelings of fear, sadness and abandonment. In recent years, over 20,000 children have returned to Romania, with or without their parents. In Vrancea County 740 of these children are currently in school. The project aims to facilitate the social and educational reintegration of returning migrant children, through measures such as psychological and educational counselling for children, parental education and trainings for the teachers and other specialists. The project proposes the establishment of three regional centres for psychological and educational assistance in Focsani, Adjud and Marasesti. 300 children (the main target group) and 340 teachers and other specialists involved in the field of education will be involved in the project activities.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to facilitate the social and educational reintegration of the children coming back to Romania after a period spent in another country (re-migrating children) trough implementation of active measure. In order to enhance the impact of the project, the promotor had received additional funds through PLUS and the promotor had implemented supplementary activities such as educational innovative measure, organization of a study visit for promoting intercultural understanding. The promotor succeeded to set up three regional centers for psychological and educational assistance in Focsani, Ajud and Marasesti. The promotor organized an awareness campaign in schools about the importance of education and disseminated a methodological guide for teachers regarding the measures for the reintegration of re-migrant children. All indicators regarding the target group were exceeded such as number of children involved in the project activities increased from 360 estimated to 447, number of experts engaged in providing social services increased from 665 to 781 at the end of the project. Through these centers, the direct beneficiaries benefited of psychological counseling addressed also to children but also to their parents. A number of 20 teachers participated to the implementation of educational remedial measures such as support to acquire knowledge of Romanian language and after-school activities. The promoter organized extra-curricular activities, 6 summer camp with a total of 300 participants. The project was implemented in partnership with two local NGOs and one NGO from Island, Intercultural Iceland, which facilitated a study visit to a public school in Reykjavyk. The promoter had a series of public events (regional workshops, press conferences, web-site) that increased a lot project visibility. All indicators have been reached and exceeded due to the fact that public authorities showed a highly interests in the project activities. A number of 700 experts were involved in training programs on the socio-educational integration of re-migrant children.
Summary of bilateral results
The purpose of the exchange experience between the beneficiary and the Icelandic partner was to observe the activity of the public services for the integration of migrants and structures institutional arrangements to facilitate the integration of migrants in Iceland, to parallel the activities implemented by both parties regarding the social inclusion and to identify good practice in order to implement them; and to collaborate directly with representatives from public authorities and educational institutions. The participation of the Icelandic partners in training activities held in Romania, allowed direct analysis of the teacher training methodology used in Iceland and the analysis of the general institutional intervention directorates presented as models of best practice.