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Description
Aim of the project is to work with families of Roma community in Dobšiná who struggle with poverty and existential problems and lack basic life skills. Many of parents are under the age of 15 which is one of the basic problems which needs to be addressed here. Parental centre will therefore continue with the activities leading to improvement of the current situation and provide informal education to adolescent girls on planned parenthood and responsible sexuality through regular meetings. Accordingly, working with whole families as well, teaching parents how to properly socialize and prepare their children for elementary school. Project will also extend the activities to include direct work with children straight from the birth and mothers in their home environment and include activities for the early development of the child and building parental competences for clients from the Roma community. Furthermore the project will enable the employment of mothers from the community who have been working as mentors in the centre for a long time. Project aims to help 10 young families (20 parents+21 children 3-8 years old), 40 children 0-3 years old and their mothers, 10 future mothers and 10 young girls 14-16 years old.
Summary of project results
The development of children growing up in marginalised Roma communities that are at risk of social exclusion and poverty is negatively affected by their living conditions. The objective of the project "Parenting Centre - Early Childhood Care in the Household" was to introduce meaningful and effective methods and local services which focus on the improvement of early childhood care and parenting education and which would contribute to the solution of the unfavourable situation of the Roma community. The main activities of the project consisted of regular educational and support activities for mothers with small babies several times a week in the organisation''s parenting centre, as well as outreach work with families in their home environment. As part of the project, 2 peer mentors who came directly from the community were employed to educate young girls on partnership, family planning, and responsible approach to sex. Methodological materials on early childhood care were prepared for parents. A total of 235 people were involved in the project, with 159 beneficiaries of early childhood care services, which far exceeded the planned number. The project is of great importance not only in terms of improving the quality of early childhood care but also in terms of education on responsible parenthood, which will lead to better quality parenting for other children who were not involved in the project. The implementation of the early care project in the premises of the parents'' centre, which is actually a house with all the equipment, is unique in Slovakia, as it simulates a family environment, which becomes an inspiration for people coming from generational poverty and who are living in very poor conditions to try to recreate such conditions in their own family.