Description
One of the main problems identified by the Gradinari Municipality is related to the improvement of educational integration of Roma children and youth. Gradinari Commune, Olt County has a total population of 2370 inhabitants, of which 564 are Roma. Their households are concentrated in the village Petculesti (200 households) component of Gradinari Commune. The poor level of education of the children and youth and the high rate of school drop-out are leading to social exclusion. The main objective of the project is to improve the access to integrated services of children and young people at risk. To facilitate their social inclusion the project intends to improve school attendance and reduce school dropout of 60 children (out of which 52 Roma), increase the awareness on the importance of education among 200 Roma people, families of children and youth at risk and community members, and to improve the access to the labour market for 40 young people at risk (out of which 35 Roma).
Summary of project results
The project started as a result of a local facilitation process in Gradinari Commune, with a population of 2370 people, over 500 beeing Rroma people, process that identified multiple problems that needed to be adressed, such as: school dropping among young population, lack of education conducting to unemployment or difficulties in finding a job, lack of social services for the young people such as counselling or support in surching and finding job opportunities, school dropping among children, lack of counselling services for parents etc. The main goals of the project were to increase awearness regarding education among Rroma people from Gradinari Commune, to improve school participation and to decrease school dropping among children, to improve the access on labor market for young people.The project started in partnership between the commune mayoralty as Project Promoter and a local NGO. After cancelling the partnership agreement, the Project Promoter took over the implementation of the project and finalized the project activities. As a result, a day Center for Social Inclusion was created in Gradinari Commune, Petculesti village, to provide social services, educational services and counselling services. At the end of this project, 67 children (61 rroma children) were direct beneficieries of after school activities, 51 young people were beneficieries of professional training and assistance for employment, 67 parents were involved in counselling activities and over 200 people from the community were informed about the project intervention and activities through 5 informing campaigns, promotion materials and through the 2 events organized at the beggining and at the end of the project.
Summary of bilateral results