More information
Description
The project aims to provide an integrated package of socio-educational, psycho-pedagogical, occupational services in order to increase the school and social participation of 120 Roma children at risk of dropping out of school / early school leaving from 2 communities in Iasi and Botosani county (1 rural and 1 urban community). Also, the project aims to provide training services / information seminars and develop interaction skills for 300 vulnerable people from the 2 communities, min 50% of the participants will be women. 800 vulnerable people from the 2 communities will participate in a campaign against discrimination and Roma empowerment. Through the expertise of the project partners in integrated services for children and the development of information services and campaigns on combating discrimination, the project will contribute to: improving school participation and reducing the risk of school dropout for 120 children at risk of dropping out of school as a result of participating in the socio-educational program developed within the project; increasing the degree of social inclusion by providing integrated services and support for 120 parents by providing counselling and psycho-social support services; increasing the training level for 300 vulnerable people from the 2 communities; increasing the level of information and developing skills to support and promote Roma population for 800 vulnerable people from the 2 communities. The project proposes a sustainable partnership and a model of related intervention at the level of child / young person - family - school - community members. Each member of the partnership will promote the model of intervention developed within the project and will incorporate the working methods developed in the current activities.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the issue of school dropout among disadvantaged communities and provide sustainable solutions for keeping children in school for as long as possible. It was carried out in two marginalized communities in Botoșani County: the Albești commune and the town of Săveni. Centralized nation-level data show that there are several general factors influencing the early school dropout rate, such as: low family income levels, low territorial accessibility to educational services, children''s involvement in seasonal work, parental migration, etc.
In this context, the implemented activities aimed to increase children''s participation in the educational process by intervening holistically in education, through activities and services directed at both children and social and educational services for parents (parenting education groups aimed at developing parenting skills, as well as raising awareness of the importance of education).
The project aimed to increase the inclusion and empowerment of the Roma community in the two communities by providing an integrated package of services tailored to their needs. The target group consisted of 1,340 individuals, and the activities carried out with them were as follows:
- Implementation of an after-school program for children in the two communities. The program also provided a hot meal, as well as school supplies and clothing packages.
- Parental education activities for parents and/or legal guardians of the children.
- Empowerment activities.
An important activity of the project was the implementation of an optometry consultation program for both adults and children, as well as the provision of eyeglasses funded by the project.
The final beneficiaries were the two communities as a whole, as the project generated an efficient and sustainable model of social services aimed at vulnerable groups. The integrated services for Roma individuals covered a wide range of interventions, depending on the needs of the local community, which could serve as credible models for other communities. Educational activities, such as after-school programs, as well as parental support activities, will continue even after the project''s activities conclude, and legal counselling services will also be maintained.