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Description
In Slovakia, there is a large Roma community. In most cases, they live in isolated settlements, separate from the rest of the population. The Roma community is a social group of Slovak society which is faced with multiple and interrelated problems which increase their exclusion. Indeed, the vast majority of Roma remain marginalised and live in almost total social exclusion in many aspects of everyday life. The way in which Roma people survive and raise children is incompatible with the institution of education, which is why a large percentage of Roma are completely illiterate.
The project promoter aims to strengthen operation of the organisation REYN - Roma Early Years Network Slovakia, the member of International REYN network, established to advocate for the Roma population in Slovakia, and increase their inclusion by the State in consultation processes regarding Roma issues.
The project promoter also plans to map actual level of non-formal education among Roma children in early age as well as their parents, and provide national authorities with their findings and proposals. Based on these findings the project promoter plans to advocate for system changes, cooperate with local stakeholders and authorities and create action plans based on the special needs in education of Roma communities. The project promoter will further continue enhancing the skills of educators of REYN Slovakia in cooperation with Croatian and Hungarian REYN organisations, share best practices and improve knowledge gained.
Project promoter strongly believes that focusing efforts on non-formal education in early age and support provided to parents in order to facilitate school attendance of Roma children will bring progress to the Roma community as a whole.
Summary of project results
The project promoter is the founder of the Slovak office of an international network REYN - Roma Early Years Network. In this project, the project promoter aimed to widen the member base and educational skills of members and to strengthen the relationship with state authorities to advocate for improvement in the approach to the education of the Roma community, in which REYN is an expert.
The project promoter widened the number of members and provided them with educational development training. The project promoter organized international meetings with REYN organizations from other countries to share best practices. While operating in the regions with a high Roma population, the project promoter agreed to cooperate with ten local organizations where the project promoter delivered Action plans. Throughout the project, the project promoter conducted research and published an Evaluation Study on the inclusion of children in early years with special education needs in Slovakia. The project promoter promoted project activities via social media. The project promoter built the campaign on the success stories of 11 Roma people with their own inspiring stories.