All different, all equal - social inclusion in the City of Žilina

Project facts

Project promoter:
City of Žilina(SK)
Project Number:
SK-LOCALDEV-0026
Status:
Completed
Final project cost:
€223,958
Other Project Partners
Civic association Return(SK)
Diocesan Charity of Žilina - House of Charity of St. Vincent(SK)
Foundation Žilina self-governing region(SK)
Slovak Red Cross territorial association Žilina(SK)

Description

The project focuses on current community issues such as helping children cope with the difficulty of the curriculum during primary school teaching and improving their home preparation for the teaching process, increasing the interest of children''s parents in pre-school education in kindergartens, creating a stimulating environment with enough leisure activities for children and young people in Bratislavská Street. The project also supports and monitors of the situation in the area of housing stability and prevention of housing loss and have an equipment rental established at the Community Center on Bratislavská Street. The project offers expansion of the activities of the Community Center in the locality of Bratislavská Street through the implementation of the superstructure of the existing Community Center building and creates a new updated concept of development.

Summary of project results

The project sought to address the challenges faced by the marginalized Roma community in Žilina. Key challenges included:

  • Enhancing education for children and young people, starting from pre-school age.
  • Strengthening collaboration between the Roma community and the majority.
  • Improving the quality of housing for the Roma community.

The project included eight key activities aimed at improving education, social inclusion, housing stability, and community engagement for the marginalized Roma community in Žilina:

  1. Tutoring and mentoring for pupils: Focused on improving academic performance and learning habits of elementary school children, leading to significant improvement in grades.

  2. Preschool preparation: Educated mothers about the importance of kindergarten enrollment, resulting in increased awareness.

  3. Leisure activities and facilities: Organized after-school activities for children and youth, and constructed a workout field.

  4. Housing stability support: Hired a financial advisor to assist families with budgeting and preventing housing loss. Despite the advisor''s illness, the goal was achieved internally.

  5. Tool rental center: Renewed the tool rental center with new equipment and a container.

  6. Community Center expansion: Added a second floor to the center to enhance services, including creating a dedicated space for children and parents (a maternity center).

  7. Updated development concept: Created a new strategic plan for 2022–2026 to promote social inclusion of the Roma community.

  8. Education and publicity: Organized conferences, exhibitions, and distributed educational and promotional materials to raise awareness and share outcomes.

The main result of the project was the extension of the community center and the creation of a workout field. The expansion of the center increased its capacity and improved the quality of the activities offered. The workout playground enables children to spend their free time more meaningfully, engage them in sports activities, and develop their skills. Through the project''s soft activities, children were supported in their education in an engaging and experiential way with the help of didactic aids. Additionally, these activities facilitated the employment of six workers from the Roma community.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.