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Description
The Spiš region, where the project will be implemented, is typical for a high proportion of vulnerable groups - especially the Roma. Most of them live in segregated areas, have a low level of education and are not interested in education. Their school attendance shows a high absence. The aim of the project is to support and strengthen the position of vulnerable groups - Roma and low-income families in the Spiš region in the form of support for children''s education and awareness-raising activities in the field of educational support. Project will implement activities leading to the improvement of the educational level of the target group - children and the support of their inclusion. Through leisure activities, it wants to gain their trust and motivation for educational activities. To ensure effective work with the target group, seminars are planned for employees, who will carry out direct activities with the target group. In addition to the professional guarantor and the professional worker, the team of staff will be composed of assistants, who will help the children prepare for classes. At least one assistant will be from the local Roma community. In addition to these activities, workshops will be held at schools for teachers and parents to support the inclusion of Roma pupils. The project will positively influence 100 participants of the vulnerable group - children from Roma families from segregated communities and their parents.
Summary of project results
The region of eastern and northern Slovakia, where our organization operates, is a region with a high Roma population, which is mostly concentrated in segregated settlements. The inhabitants of these settlements are at a considerable disadvantage compared to the Roma inhabitants living in the majority society. They live in isolation in the absence of a connection with the majority society. This also affects their thinking and relationship to education, in which they do not see meaning and at the same time the possibilities of education are limited. The aim of our project was to work in some settlements in the field of education, especially in terms of motivating target groups and in terms of supporting education through extracurricular educational activities. The project involved a teacher, a specialist and four workers. The motivation for the target groups was leisure activities, which are also suitable as a tool for gaining trust. In the first months of working with target groups, we therefore focused on these activities. Although it is not within the power and possibilities of the implemented project to completely change their thinking, it is important to start and, if possible, continue. The pandemic significantly affected the implementation of the project and we were unable to track changes in children''s school attendance or educational outcomes, but we can confirm that parents became more interested in their children''s education. The project was beneficial not only for the target groups but also for the organization. We have gained a lot of experience and we continue and develop other activities that will contribute to improving the situation of clients.