Description
The general objective of the project is to promote social inclusion and change negative attitudes towards the Roma minority by using non-formal education (music) addressed to the needs of Roma and non-Roma young people from the disadvantaged community of Ferentari. The specific objectives are to stimulate school participation of 30 Roma and non-Roma children; to develop the musical skills of these children; to promote cultural diversity and inter-cultural dialogue by working with 10 parents from the community; to combat negative attitudes towards Roma. The target group is 30 Roma and non-Roma children, between 6-14 years old, in difficult economic situation, with non-satisfactory results in school and with a need of increased parental care. The main expected results are: improved musical skills and capacity of 30 children, 80 sessions of musical education (African drums) and intercultural dialogue, improved school attendance and improved behaviour in school for 15 children, involvement of 10 others in the project, one public event, one flash-mob, 1000 CD with the music played by the children.
Summary of project results
The project needs were to stimulate school participation of 30 Roma and non-Roma children, to develop musical skills and life abilities for them, to promote cultural diversity and inter-cultural dialogue by working with 10 parents from the community; to combat negative attitudes towards Roma. Focused on stimulating school participation and motivation, the project provided the children with the self esteem and confidence that they can develop their artistic and educational potential regardless of their ethnic identity and social background. The main results were: improved musical skills and life abilities for 30 children, 80 sessions of musical education (African drums) and intercultural dialogue, improved school attendance and improved behaviour in school for 65.4% of the children, one public event in the middle of the marginalized community of Ferentari, one flash-mob in the center of Bucharest, 1000 CDs with the 10 songs played by the children in Ferentari in collaboration with Ikhaya Band, on video of the flash-mob, a radio documentary about the project that has a daily reach of approximately 14,600 people. The main achievements for the beneficiaries of the project, based on their direct evaluation are: 68% of the Roma and non-Roma children discovered a real artistic talent during the African percussion sessions that they want to explore further; 63,4% of the Roma and non-Roma children involved in the project received positive feedback from teachers at school in terms of behaviour since they got involved in the project; 72% of the Roma and non-Roma children improved significantly their attention span and concentration capacity in school since the beginning of the project;86.4% of the Roma and non-Roma children understand the positive impact on education for their future development as a result of attending the African percussion sessions; 56.8% of the children improved significantly their school motivation due to participation in the project. According to the African percussion instructors, the most important achievements are 80% of the Roma and non-Roma children improved positively their behavior, discipline and attitude since the beginning of the African percussion sessions; 83.2% of the Roma and non-Roma children displayed more openness in communication and working with other children due to their participation in the African percussion weekly sessions; 86.2% of the beneficiaries are more motivated to complete school.
Summary of bilateral results