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Description
The project aims to support the participation of Roma school children, aged 6-12, in summer camps camps, in order to strengthen their creative symbiosis with other conversational campers, to be empowered as personalities through sports, recreational and educational activities, to remove negative stereotypes through it cohabitation and their participation in group camping activities and sports. The aforementioned will be provided as a continuation of the preparation of children and their parents through the implementation of information activities, approach to the target group, support and active participation of Roma parents and children
Summary of project results
The project faced multiple challenges, including delays in obtaining supporting documents, mistrust from parents regarding the use of personal information, and logistical issues during the camp periods, such as a major fire and a COVID-19 outbreak in Attica. In some cases, racist incidents were reported, which provided opportunities for constructive dialogue. In addition, several challenges faced during three camping periods, as described below per camping period. The camp period in Attica faced two serious problems during its implementation. The first was the big fire in Aspropyrgos on August 22, which worried children and parents. The second was the covid-19 incidents occurred that caused the end of the camp season, earlier than September 2 (the planned date of leaving the camp). Specifically, on 26/8/2023 several of the children in the camp were diagnosed with covid. A few days earlier, a fire had broken out in Attica, causing significant damage to houses in Aspropyrgos. Two families of our small campers lost their homes while most of the families had to temporarily move to other places of Attica. Consiquently, several parents asked to urgently take their children from the camp. For each child leaving the camp, a relevant Declaration of Responsibility was submitted to AMKE ROMA WITHOUT BORDERS. The camp season ended on 28 of August.
a) An exception to the smooth implementation of the camping mission in Central Macedonia were two incidents of rather racist behaviors. b) In the second camping period, implemented in Orfani, Kavala, the main challenge was the lack of experience of the camp staff working with Roma children. This increased the need for the presence of the Roma staff team in more places and activities. Nevertheless, the experience of the team of Roma companions and the training received by the camp staff from the organization ROMA WITHOUT BORDERS had a positive effect on the further implementation of the mission. The camp season was successfully completed.
The “OPEN SEAS” project aimed to support Roma children aged 6-12 by enabling their participation in summer camps. The project was implemented with the participation of children from Roma communities of Attica and Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia. The total number of Roma children finally promoted was 77 but, due to documentation issues, the finally certified children were 70. More specifically, 16 children attended the camp In Chalkidiki but only 16 were approved. Four children were not approved either due to lack in their documentation or due to their age. 17 children attended the camp In Orfani, Kavala. 37 children attended the camp In Sofiko, Korinthia.
The initial aim of the action was to support the participation of 80 Roma pupils, aged 6-12 years, in summer camps and mainly to foster creative interaction with other campers of the same age in the regions of Thessaloniki and Attica. The act also aimed at strengthening their personalities through sports, recreational and educational activities and at removing negative stereotypes through cohabitation and participation in group camp activities and sports. The project''s aim was aligned with the directions of the National Strategy for the Inclusion of Roma people 2021–2030. The strategy emphasizes the holistic approach of the active inclusion of the Roma, with the aim of promoting equal treatment, socio-economic inclusion and the active participation of the Roma in social life and the actions that concern them. It combined targeted Roma social inclusion interventions with measures that ensure their equal participation in national policies for social inclusion, employment, education, health, housing, etc. The call “Promotion and support of Roma children in summer camps” refers to the implementation of Small Grant Scheme 2 entitled "Supporting Roma children in summer camps", within the "Roma inclusion and empowerment" program. The purpose of Small Grant Scheme 2 and this call is to support Roma children''s participation in summer camps, in order to strengthen their creative coexistence with other campers, to strengthen themselves as personalities through sports, recreational and educational activities, to remove negative stereotypes through cohabitation and support their participation in group camp activities and sports. The project also financed the preparation of the children and their parents through the implementation of information activities, approach of the target group, support and active participation of parents and Roma children, so that on the one hand the parents to be informed about the importance of the project and on the other hand they prepare the children for their participation in Children''s Camps. According to the abovementioned, the call “Promotion and support of Roma children in summer camps” and OPEN SEAS project’s goals were in total alignment. Thus, the choice of this call as a funding tool was the best.