Description
The project "Together for a better life" is aimed at improving access Romanian citizens belonging to Roma minority in the villages Jibert and Soars to the public system education, as well as more effective and adults access to the labor market active. Project objectives consist in providing, during the whole period of progress of the project of services psycho-socio-occupational and vocational guidance with a view to significant growth in the labor market of a number of 200 persons of ethnic Roma seeking employment; Social promotion to inclusion of ethnic Roma population in the labor market by facilitating equal access to employment through specific training adapted to local requirements for both women and men; development of a scheme to enhance the opportunities for future participation in the labor market by pressing ethnic Roma children aged between 5 and 7 years in the public system of local education.
Summary of project results
Jibert and Soars are two rural villages in Brasov County that have all the characteristics of disadvantaged communities: poor infrastructure, lack of investments, the low level of education, social exclusion and lack of employment opportunities especially for Roma (more than 75% of them are inactive people). The objective of the project was to improve the access of Roma ethnics to education and labour market. In this respect, two Socio-Educational Centers were set up in Soars and Jibert in order to provide professional counselling and orientation for 200 Roma ethnics, out of which 56 attended certified vocational courses in becoming constructors and cleaning agents. The centers provided after-school activities to 178 Roma students, who also participated in summer camps and other nonformal educational activities. Through the implemented activities, the Roma ethnics have now higher chances to find decent jobs as qualified workers; the children who attended the nonformal educational activities and received educational packages have an increased self-esteem, a better understanding about the importance of education and improved learning skills. The educational activities created a favourable context for children of different ethnicities to interact and to know each other better, in this way contributing at reducing educational differences. The main change brought by the project is the improvement of the perception of residents and local authorities in Jibert and Soars towards the Roma population, especially children beneficiaries of the project. The teachers involved in the educational activities and the representatives of City Halls found that Roma children can be integrated through specific programmes for vulnerable groups. The major change occurred through the School after school programme, as some beneficiaries responded positively at the proposed activities and even proved that following a specific preparation they met the school curricula requirements.
Summary of bilateral results