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Description
Romania''s national strategy for Roma integration (2021-2027) aims to eliminate poverty and social exclusion of Roma by emphasizing the importance of eliminating segregation in schools and Roma access to health services or social integration. The project focuses on these priorities while revolving around the need for Roma people to assume their identity and know their rights and obligations. Therefore, this project aims to develop and implement measures aimed at increasing the capacity to assume Roma identity and at peaceful coexistence of Roma and non-Roma members from four mixed communities in Dâmbovița County.
Objectives pursued:
1. Supporting the coexistence of Roma members with non-Roma members, by promoting dialogue;
2. Promoting social inclusion by developing the quality of the educational act;
3. Increasing the degree of active involvement in the life of the community and supporting them to regulate all family documents and declare their ethnicity;
4. Increasing the capacity of at least 60 young mothers, Roma and non-Roma, to find common ground and know their rights. Direct beneficiaries: at least 880 Roma and non-Roma people from four mixed communities, including children, teenage mothers and men, teachers and pupils.
Beneficiaries will receive legal, psychological, educational and medical advice, the young mothers will benefit from gynecological examination and support packages; teachers and participating pupils will exchange experience, will benefit from an after-school program, and will also take part in summer school camps on human rights; 580 participants will be mobilized in multicultural dialogue activities. The Think Big organization will carry out the project in partnership with the Roma Group Association and with the four gymnasium schools from the participating communities. Ten volunteers will also be mobilized, of which at least five will be of Roma ethnicity.
Summary of project results
In the framework of the activities carried out by the applicant, knowing that Roma students are also enrolled in the respective educational institutions (in Glod the percentage is approximately 100%), we were surprised when we were informed that no student he was declared of Roma ethnicity in the two schools. Following consultations with school management and Roma families, the reason, basically, is that families do not declare themselves and their children as Roma "out of shame and fear". Ashamed of their identity, of the fact that they are different, and fear of the reactions of those around them (neighbors, community, other children) and the repercussions on their children.
Romania''s national strategy for Roma integration (2021-2027) aims to eliminate poverty and social exclusion of Roma by emphasizing the importance of eliminating segregation in schools and Roma access to health services or social integration. The project focused on these priorities while revolving around the need for Roma people to assume their identity and know their rights and obligations. Therefore, this project managed to develop and implement measures that increased the capacity to assume Roma identity and at peaceful coexistence of Roma and non-Roma members from four mixed communities in Dâmbovița County.
In order to achieve the goal of the project, the project promoter proposed three objectives to reach at least 880 beneficiaries, and during February-April 2023, and carried out for the first objective the folowing activities: - greenings in which 202 children and adults from the four communities participated and in which approximately 400 kg of waste was collected - sports days for children and adults in the four communities, activities in which 22 students of the four schools and 127 adults (former students of the school, parents, teachers and even employees of the town hall) took part To achieve the second objective of the project, we have had: - exchange of experience between students and teaching staff, the Ion Cioranescu Moroeni Secondary School exchanged with the I.L. Caragiale, and Telesti Secondary School with Matăsaru Secondary School. 4 students and 2 teachers participated in each exchange. - educational and psychological counseling for teachers from the four partner schools, with a total of 82 beneficiaries - completion of the after-school program in Glod and Telești schools, with a total of 40 beneficiary students - collaboration with the Dâmbovița County School Inspectorate to promote the inclusion of one Roma parent in each school board, where Roma students form at least 15% of the total students in the school To achieve the third objective: - legal counseling sessions with adults and support with the settlement of documents or individual legal counseling for divorce issues, alimony, inheritances or appearing at trial in the case of spouses in prison - a total of 74 beneficiaries - public consultations of citizens from the four communities with representatives of the town hall - a total of 82 participants - medical and psychological counseling for underage mothers, who also benefited from aid packages with products for women and children - 81 beneficiaries - legal and educational counseling for underage mothers - 69 beneficiaries
Monthly planning, meetings with volunteers, experts from the project and principals of the schools involved were carried out
Promoting the project and distributing the results
Approximately 400 kg of waste were collected and 202 students and adults participated, plus 12 accompanying teachers from the partner schools.
In sports activities with students we had a total of 122 beneficiaries, and in sports activities with adults a number of 127 beneficiaries.
The organization of the second exchange of experience involving the mobility of 4 groups of 4 declared Roma students each for 5 school days, and of 4 groups of 2 teachers each for 2 school days
Running an after-school program for 34 weeks, overlapping with school weeks, for groups of 20 students at the schools in Ludesti (Telesti) and Glod
Educational and psychological counseling of a number of 80 teachers who teach at the four secondary schools in the participating communities
Sending letters to promote the inclusion of one Roma parent in school boards
Organizing a legal counseling session and assisting the participants with the entry into legality with personal documents, in each of the 4 mixed communities, for a minimum of 60 participants