ROMAEDUCATION

FUND

WITH SUPPORT FROM THe eUROPean UnIOn

Slovakia

HungaryRomania

Macedonia

a good start

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A Good StArt ROMAEDUCATION

FUNDWITH SUPPORT FROM THe eUROPean UnIOn

“Pre-primary education has the highest returns in terms of the social adaptation of children. Member States should invest more in pre-primary education as an effective means to establish the basis for further learning, preventing school drop-out, increasing equity of outcomes and overall skill levels.”

European Commission 2006 Communication Efficiency and Equity

in European Education and Training Systems

roma Education in Europe• EducationalattainmentofRomachildren

isverypoor,withhighnumbersofschooldrop-outs.

• Despiteattemptstopromoteinclusion,non-Romachildrenareleavingintegratedschools.

• DisproportionatelylargenumbersofRomachildrenaresegregatedinspecialschoolsandclassesforchildrenwithlearningdisabilities.

• Qualityearlycareandedu-cationforRomachildrenisessentialtohaveagoodstartinlife.

P i l o t p r o j e c t o f t h e R o m a E d u c a t i o n F u n d 3

What is the `A Good Start` Project?The‘AGoodStart’(AGS)projectwaslaunchedbytheRomaEducationFundinsummer,2010.Theprojectwhich is supported by the European Commission,targetsRomaandnon-Romachildrenaged0-6yearsandtheirparents,offeringqualityearlycareandde-velopmentservicesin16locationsinfourcountriesoftheRomaDecade.

International partners of rEF in the `AGS’

The AGS is managed and implemented through acooperative partnership between REF, as the mainapplicant, three international partners that are inConsortiumaswellasseverallocalRomaNGOsandotherlocalimplementingPartners.

Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) Carolina Fernandez, Head of International department carolina.fernandez@gitanos.org

FSGisanon-profitinter-culturalso-cialorganisationthatprovidesserv-ices for the development of theRomacommunitythroughoutallof

SpainandattheEuropeanlevel.Itcommenceditsworkinthe1960’sandwasconstitutedasAssocia-tionin1982andasFoundationintheyear2001.ThemissionoftheFSGisthe integraladvancementoftheRomacommunitybasedonrespectandsupport

for their cultural identity.The purpose of this mis-sionistosupportaccessofRomapersonstorights,services and social resources on an equal footingwith all other citizens.To accomplish this, a widerangeofactionsarecarriedoutfocusedonimprov-ingthelivingstandardsofRomapeopleandencour-agingrecognition,supportanddevelopmentoftheculturalidentityoftheRomacommunity.

International Step By Step Association (ISSA)Mihaela Ionescu, Project Manager mionescu@issa.hu

ISSA is an innovative network of earlychildhooddevelopmentprofessionalsandorganizationsprimarilyinCentralEasternEuropeandCentralAsia,workingtomakequality early childhood education acces-sible to all children. ISSA accomplishesthis through: raising awareness of the

importanceofqualitycareandeducation,developingresources, disseminating information, advocating,strengtheningalliancesandbuildingcapacitytocre-ateconditionswhereallchildrenthrive.ISSA’svisionisthatwithsupportfromthefamilyandcommunity,everychildreacheshisorherfullpotentialanddevel-opsskillsnecessaryforbeingasuccessfulandactivememberofademocraticknowledgesociety. ISSA’sservices include: providing resources, technical as-sistanceandtraininginECDinsuchareasasdiversityand social justiceeducation, parent empowerment,bilingualeducationetc.;training,mentoringandpro-viding support for reaching common understandingaboutqualitypedagogyECD,basedontheISSAPrin-ciplesofQualityPedagogy.

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Slovak Governance Institute (SGI)Judit Kontseková, Project Manager kontsekova@governance.sk

SGI, a non-profit, non-partisancivic association, was spun offfromoneofthemostimportantSlovak think-tanks INEKO (Insti-

tute for Social and Economic Reforms) in October2001tocreateanNGOwithaclearfocusongoodgovernanceandpublicpolicy.SGIhasimplementednumberofprojectsindifferentfieldsrelatedtopolicy-making.TheassignmentscarriedoutbySGIincludepublic administration assessments and changes,policymakingandpolicy implementation,human re-sourcesenhancementandcapacitybuilding.

Within the AGS there are centre-, com-munity- and home-based interventions. The breadth of activities includes sup-porting children to attend formal kin-dergarten, training teachers and sup-port staff, providing informal classes for children, parenting classes and enrol-ment support such as helping children to get identity documents and vaccina-tions. The approach is tailored to the needs of the people, taking into account the varying quality of provision in the different localities. Where possible there is close collaboration with local authori-

ties and other providers. Roma Education Fund had tested these types of activities within the region with considerable suc-cess and now these experiences are being scaled up. In addition to service provision, advocacy will be undertaken at local and international level to promote the lessons learned from the project and Roma inclu-sion in pre-school education. The aim of the AGS is to improve early childhood de-velopment outcomes for Roma and non-Roma children, and create a precedent from the AGS pilot project which can be scaled up in all Decade countries.

P i l o t p r o j e c t o f t h e R o m a E d u c a t i o n F u n d 5

Who does AGS help?

TheAGShelpsatotalofmorethan4350Romachil-drenandfamiliesasdirectbeneficiaries.Manymorechildrenandfamilieswillbenefitasaresultofadvo-cacyatthenationalandinternationallevel.TheAGShasanexplicit,butnotexclusivetargeting.

Slovakia

HungaryRomania

Macedonia

roma Education Fund

TheRomaEducationFund (REF)wascreatedwith-in the frameworkof theDecadeofRoma inclusionin 2005. It’s mission is to close the gap in educa-tional outcomes between Roma and non-Romapeople. Inorder to achieve thisgoal,REFsupportspoliciesandprogramsthatensurequalityeducationforRoma, including thedesegregationofeducationsystems.REFrunsfivemajorprogramsin14coun-triesinCentralandEasternEurope.Forfurtherinfor-mation see the Roma Education Fund’s website athttp://www.romaeducationfund.org.

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How will success be monitored?ThereisalackofcomprehensiveandcomparabledataonRomaintheregion.Inordertohaveabaselineforeach location, REF and its partners in the monitor-ingandevaluationteam(SlovakGovernanceInstitute,WorldBankandUNDP)developedaCommunityAs-sessmenttool.PartnerNGOscarriedoutresearchonearlycareanddevelopmentservicesineachprojectlocality from primary and secondary sources. TheCommunityAssessmentdata-tablesshowthegapsinearlycareanddevelopmentprovision,andwhatisneededtoimprovethesituation.

TheHouseholdsurveywasdesignedtocaptureba-sichouseholdinformation,andprovideinsightinto

theeducationrelatedexpectationsandattitudesoftheRomaparents.Thesurveyhasbeenappliedtotheparents involved intheproject (wheretheyortheir children are ‘recurrent beneficiaries’ partici-patinginanumberofactivities).Belowisatableil-lustratingthenumberoffamiliesthatitisexpectedwillberecurrentbeneficiaries.

PartnerNGOswillalsocollectdataonchildren’sat-tendance in schools and their results, andpartici-pationof families inactivitiesamongstotherdata–inputtingthisintoaninteractiveweb-baseddata-base.Asteachertrainingisoneofthemajoractivi-tiesintheproject(carriedoutbyInternationalStepbyStepAssociationandotherNGOs),anobserva-tion tool will be used to assess improvements inteachingtowardstheRomachildren.

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localities in Slovakia, Romania, Macedoina, Hungary

Source:‘AGoodStart’project

ProjectImplementationPlan

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An Introduction to Activities in MacedoniaThe“AGoodStart”project,targetingchildrenaged0-6years, isbeingimplementedinfivelocalitiesinMac-edonia.AGSinvolvesover2500Romaniandnon-Rom-ani children and their families and operates in ŠutoOrizari,Vinica/Blatec,Trabotivište,andDelchevo/Crnik.

AGSemphasizesthebuildingoflastingpartnershipsamongRomaniparents,educationauthoritiesandin-stitutions,localgovernmentandcivilsociety.Projectactivities in Macedonia employ the experience andresourcesofREFanditspartnerstostrengthenpre-schooleducationandfacilitatesuccessfultransitionsintotheprimaryeducationsystem.ByincreasingtheenrollmentofRomanichildrenintopre-schooleduca-tionfromtheageofthree,AGSensuresthatchildrenbenefitfrompre-schooleducation,bothfortheedu-cationalandsocialbenefitsandasasteppingstonetoprimaryeducation.

In addition,AGS draws attention to key aspects ofpreventive healthcare and early childhood develop-ment.AsaresultofthesuccessofAGS,theeduca-tionsysteminCrnikwillbeexpandingwiththeopen-ingofanewpre-schoolinstitutionandthepre-schooleducation for the children fromTrabotivište will beensuredinDelchevo.

AGoodStartincludesacommonsetofactivitiesfa-cilitatedinallcountries, includingawarenessraisingandenrollmentassistance;need-basedmaterialsup-port;preparationfortransitiontoprimaryeducation;diversity training for teaching staff; and training forRoma community workers (mediators). In addition,uniqueprogramcomponentsaredevelopedtomeetthespecificneedsofeachlocality.

Implementing partners in Macedonia

National roma Centrum (NrC)NRCwasfoundedinKumanovoin2005asacivilandhumanrightsbasedorganization,aimedatcombatinganti-RomanisentimentandhumanrightsabuseoftheRomapeople.NRCrepresentsandstimulatestheactiveparticipationandintegrationofRomanipeopleontheprinciplesofthemodernmultiethnicEuropeansociety.TheneedsofRomaniwomenandchildrenarepriorityconcerns.NRCworksonanationallevel,implementingactivitiesrelatedtoRomainclusioninmainstreameducationacrossMacedonia.NRCprogramsalsoseektoensureaccesstohealthcareandaddressanumberofadditionalissuesaffectingtheRomanicommunity.NRCcontinuestoworktowardsRomainclusionandequitablerepresentationinallareasofMacedoniansociety.Contact person: Ashmet Elezovski elezovski@nationalromacentrum.org.

AMBrELAAmbrela was founded in Shuto Orizari (Skopje)in2007andstandsforsocialintegrationandempower-mentoftheRomanipopulationinMacedonia,priori-tizingeducation,humanrightsandgenderequity.Theorganization primarily focuses on Romani childrenandwomenasthemostvulnerableandmarginalizedmembersofsociety.Ambrela isaprofessionalnon-governmentalorganizationwhose independentcon-sultants offer expertise, experience and know-howonissuesrelevanttoRomaniintegration.Contact person: Ljatife Sikovska ambrelaoffice@gmail.com.

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KHAMCAR“KHAM” isnon-governmentalorganizationes-tablished in1999 inDelcevo.KHAM’smission is toraisetheeducationallevelandimprovethesocialandeconomic situation of the Roma population and tostrengthenthecapacityofNGOsintheEastBregal-nica region tocooperatewithhomeand foreignor-ganizationsand institutions.Theorganization’smainactivitiesfocuspredominatelyonRomayouth,work-ing toensure their inclusion inallspheresofsociallife.Theorganizationhas150membersandhasim-plementedmorethan50projects.Contact person: Zekir Abdulov kham@sonet.com.mk.

Step by Step in MacedoniaSuzana Kerandziska, Executive Director of Step by Step Foundation skiran@soros.org.mk; www.stepbystep.org.mk.

Impressions of Suto orizariby Zoe Gray

SutoOrizariisoneofthebiggestRomasettlementsinEurope.Ihavelongbeenawareofitsoamveryin-terestedtovisit.Ofthepeoplewholivehere(17,000plus in last census), about 3/4 are Roma and therestarefromotherethnicgroups.ApproachingSutoOrizariIamstruckbyhowitresemblesshanty-typetowns inAsia orAfrica: with its many small shopswhere you can buy the likes of soap, tobacco andsweets; the dustiness; the partially built buildings;thesmellandsightoffireburningattheedgeofthestreet.Althoughnotallfamiliesarepoorhere,manyoftheRomaearnaslittleas40EURamonth.

GordanaRodicandLjatifeSikovska,ofAmbrelaNGO,bringustomeetafamilyintheirhome.Thereisasmellofwarmbreadasanelderlyladycooksonanoldwoodstove.Lyinginthecornerisababy,onlythreedaysold.Themother,besidethechild, isbeamingwithpride.Theirhomeisverysmallandasagroupwetakeupalmosttheentireroom.Itisverybasicwithnorunningwaterandno toilet.Wepassbysmallmountainsofrubbishtovisitsomemorehouses.Inoneacolleaguethinksheseestoxicasbestosandinanotherthefam-ilyareburningplasticastheycannotaffordwood.Itishardnottofeellikeweareimposing,butthepeopleareverywelcomingandteaisoffered.IhaveashortconversationinGermanwiththemanofonehouse,aformergastararbeiter (orguestworker)inSwitzerland.

WemakeourwaytovisitthecommunitycentrethatAmbrela runs. It’s fullofparents (mostlymumsbuta fewdads too) andyoungchildrenwhoareenjoy-ingsomeafter-schooltime, aplacetodotheirhomework.Within ‘AGoodStart’AmbrelawillworkwithhundredsoffamiliesinSutoOrizaritohelpthemgetidentificationdocumentsandvaccinationsforthechil-drenandprovideothersupportasneededtohelpthechildrenenrollinpre-school.Amongsttheenormousobstacles impeding the Roma children’s chance tohaveadecenteducationaremoneyandpolitics,andthemoreimmediatebasicfacilities. Aboyofaboutsevenoreightkeepspullingfacesatme,Ican’tresistanddothesame.Iwonderwhatarehisoptions?,willhegettostayinschool?

P i l o t p r o j e c t o f t h e R o m a E d u c a t i o n F u n d 9

An Introduction to Activities in SlovakiaThe“AGoodStart”(AGS)project,targetingchildrenof0-6years,isbeingimplementedin4localitiesinSlovakiainvolvingover500Romaniandnon-Romanichildrenandtheirfamilies.Itoperatesintwourbanlocalities in Central Slovakia (Banská Bystrica andMartin)aswellas in two rural localities inEasternSlovakia(AbranovceandZborov).

With an emphasis on building lasting partnershipsamong Romani parents, education authorities andinstitutions, local government, and civil society, theprojectactivitiesinSlovakiabringtogethertheexperi-encesofREFanditspartnersinpre-schooleducationandthetransitiontoprimaryeducation.Atthesametime,theprojectaddsattentiontokeyaspectsofpre-

ventivehealthcareandearlychildhooddevelopment.FocusingonincreasingtheenrolmentofRomanichil-drenintopre-schooleducationfromtheageofthree,theproject alsoaims toensure that children in thetwo rural localities who cannot be enrolled in pre-schooleducationforreasonsofinstitutionalcapacityreceive adequate preparation in the home environ-mentsothattheycanmakeasuccessful transitionintoprimaryeducation.WhereinstitutionalcapacityisaproblemREFanditspartnerslobbyforanincreaseinspacesorfacilities.

Notwithstandingvariationsamongtheprojectlocali-ties,theprojectincludesacommonsetofactivities,including awareness raising and enrolment assist-ance;need-basedmaterialsupport;preparation fortransitiontoprimaryeducation;after-schoolinstruc-tioninthefirstyearofprimaryeducation;anddiver-sitytrainingforteachingstaff.

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Implementing partners in Slovakia

Equalizing opportunitiesTheCivicAssociationEqualizingOpportunitieswasfoundedinPrešovin2005withthemissionofpro-vidingeducationalactivitiesforchildrenofpre-schoolageandtheirparentsfromasociallydisadvantagedbackground. Within AGS, Equalizing Opportuni-tiesservesasthe localpartnerforthe localitiesofAbranovceandZborov.Contact person: Edita Kovárová edita.kovarova@centrum.sk

KArITheRegionalAssociationofRomaniInitiativeswasestablishedin2000inBanskáBystrica.KARI’smainactivities in the area of education have includedmentoringandtutoringofRomanipupilsinprimaryschools,establishingandsupportingRomaniassist-antsinprimaryschools,andcreatingconditionsforRoma youth to spend their free time actively andconstructively.KARIservesasthe localpartnerforAGSactivitiesinBanskáBystrica.Contact person: Martina Balogová karibb.karibb@gmail.com

KZrSrEstablished in Banská Bystrica in 1994, the Cul-tural Association of Roma of the Slovak Republichasbeenactive throughoutSlovakia,withCentralSlovakiatheregioninwhichKZRSRhasconductedthelargestnumberofactivities.KZRSRhasimple-mented projects on numerous themes, includingbut not limited to field-based social work and ad-visory services topersonswith limitedaccess toinstitutionalsupport.KZRSR’sresponsibilityinAGSisforthecityofMartin.Contact person: Andrea Bucková andrea.buckova@gmail.com

MPCMethodological-Pedagogical Center Bratislava – Re-gionalBranchPrešovprovidesandguaranteesexpertmethodologicalactivitiesinthefieldofin-servicetrain-ingofpedagogicalandnon-pedagogicalstaff,alsocar-ryingoutresearchinthisarea.UndertheSlovakMin-istryofEducation,MPCalsoexercisescompetenciesstate-wideinthefieldsofRomaniissuesandin-servicetrainingforteachersofchildrenbelongingtonationalminorities.MPC’sroleinAGSistoprovideadditionaltrainings to teachers tocomplement thosedeliveredbytheInternationalStepbyStepAssociation.Contact person: Viera Šandorová Viera.sandorova@mpc-edu.sk

Step by Step in SlovakiaEva Koncoková, Executive Director of Wide Open School Foundationnsd@nsd.sk; www.issa.nl

P i l o t p r o j e c t o f t h e R o m a E d u c a t i o n F u n d 11

An Introduction to Activities in Hungary

The“AGoodStart” (AGS)project, targetingchildrenof 0-6 years, is being implemented in 6 localities inHungary involvingat least850Romaandnon-Romachildrenandtheirfamilies.ItoperatesinNyíregyházaandfivesettlementsof theMátészalkaMicroregion:Hodász,Nagydobos,Nagyecsed,NyírkátaandKántor-jánosi.Theprojectalsoaimstoimpactpracticalknowl-edgeoneducational inclusiontouniversitystudents,mainlytothoseinpre-serviceteachertraining,priortograduationandinsertionintothelabormarket.

OneofthemainactivitiesoftheAGSproject istheMesed(YourTale)program,whichaimstostrength-enthereading-,writingandcommunicationskillsofRoma mothers by means of read-out tales, whichtheycan thendeliver to their children.Furthermorethe program prepares mothers for tasks related topreschool education and for the enrollment proce-duresofpreschool institutions.Around30studentsfromtheCollegeofNyíregyháza’spre-serviceteach-er training program will be involved in the project,gaining experience on adult education.Additionally,the project will focus on increasing the enrolmentofRomachildren intopreschooleducationfromtheage of 3, and on ensuring their regular attendancethroughtheworkof7mentorsand65studentsfromtheFacultyofEconomicsandSocialScience.

TheHomeSchoolCommunityLiaisonprogramwasintroducedinIreland(http://www.education.ie/home/home.jsp?pcategory=17216&ecategory=34291&language=EN),anditaimstoestablishcollaborationbe-tweenparentsandteachersonmattersofchildren‘seducation, targeting families and/or neighborhoods

identified as being ‘at risk’ (due to poverty, unem-ployment.AGSadoptedthetoolsoftheIrishmodel.Onceaweekduringaperiodofsixweeks,parentswill come to selected preschools and give classes(art, tales, sport, etc) to preschool children, dividedintosmallgroups.Thishighlybeneficialschemewillenablebothpedagogsandparentstoacquireanun-derstandingoftheworkofeachotherthroughbuild-ingabetterrelationshipwiththepreschoolbasedontrustandknowledge.

In addition to that, the AGS project would like tofacilitate the transitionbetween theuniversity, ac-ademic education and kindergartens.The focus ofthis activity will be on parent-teacher communica-tion, and to this end, REF in partnership with theCollegeofNyiregyhazawillorganizejointseminarsandlecturesoncommunicationandconflictresolu-tion forstudentsandpreschoolstaff twiceperse-mester.Studentswillalsovisit thepreschoolsandparticipateinparentalmeetings.

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Implementing partners in Hungary

College of NyiregyhazaUniversityCollegeofNyíregyházawasfoundin2000byintegratingtwohighereducationinstitutions:theGyörgyBessenyeiTeacher’sTrainingCollegeandtheFacultyofAgricultureoftheAgriculturalUniversityofGödöllo.Theresultofthismergerwasanewinstitu-tion that comprises five faculties and several back-groundinstitutesassistingeducation,research&de-velopment.With its12,000students,365academicstaff,itisoneofthelargesthighereducationinstitu-tions inHungary.TheAGSprojectwould like toof-feritsstudentstheopportunitytofulfilltheirmanda-torypracticumrequirementsinmixedorsegregatedkindergartensortofulfill theirfieldworkobligationsthroughtheproject.Contact person: Dr. Judit Kerülo, Faculty of Economics and Social Studies; kerulo@nyf.hu; Dr. JeneiTeréz, Faculty of Teacher Training jeneit@nyf.hu; www. nyf.hu

Unity in diversity FoundationItisanonprofitorganizationwiththemandateofpro-vidingeducationalprojectsandprogramsforthepur-pose of development and integration of the Roma,other minorities and disadvantaged populations inHungary.Theorganizationisresponsiblefortheimple-mentationoftheMesedprogramintheAGSproject,whichhasbeenalreadytriedandpilotedinotherlocali-tiesinHungary.Contact person: Furugh Switzerrfswitzr@yahoo.com; www.eaka.hu

Hope for a Better Future National Charity AssociationThe charity association was officially registered in2006, although members of the organization werealreadyactivebeforetheregistrationdate.Itsmem-bers organize many volunteer-based events (suchasmeal distributions and theorganizationofRomadays),anditservesasacontactorganizationtothelocal Roma community.The community mentoringoftheAGSprojectwillbeensuredbythecharityas-sociation.Alongsidethecommunityorientedevents,mentors will provide updated information about lo-calRomafamilies,and thenumberandsituationofRomachildren.Contact person: Csorba Mikolósnécsorbamiklosne@freemail.hu

Step by Step in HungaryÉva Deák, Executive Director of Partners Hungary Foundationdeake@partnershungary.hu; www.issa.nl; www.partnershunagry.hu

P i l o t p r o j e c t o f t h e R o m a E d u c a t i o n F u n d 13

Working in ‘A Good Start’ A Mentor’s Perspective

MariannKoka,oneofthementorsparticipatingintheAGS project, working as a connector between theRomaparents,childrenandthenon-Romacommuni-ty,haskindlyofferedtosharehersuccessstorywithREFanditsreaders.

My name is Mariann Kóka, I am a Romani womanand Iam26. I livewithmy family inTiszavasvári,asmalltownintheEastofHungary.IwasveryhappywhenSzilviaPallaghyandAnasztáziaNagy,programmanagersofthe“AGoodStart”project, invitedmeto takepart in theprogramasamentor.ARomanisettlementknownastheGuszevarea inthecityofNyíregyháza was assigned to me.The goal of theproject isearlychilddevelopmentforthosechildrenwholiveindeeppovertyinRomanisettlements,of-tenininhumanconditions.

Intheframeworkoftheprogram,mytaskistovisitthefamiliesandpersuadethemhowimportant it isforachildtostartattendingpre-schoolfromtheageof3.ThistaskisveryclosetomyheartsinceImy-selfusedtobeachild,butIwas‘lucky’:myparentsrealizedthat itwasimportantforachildtogrowupanddevelopinacommunityfromaveryearlyage.Iwasaslittleas2yearsoldwhenIwasenrolledinaday-nursery.WhatIcansayisthatmylifedevelopeddifferentlyfromthelivesofthosepeersofminewhodidnotattendpreschool,becausebythetimeIstart-edschoolIhadobtainedknowledgeofmanythings,soIwasabletolearnwithnon-Romathroughoutthe8gradesoftheelementaryschool.

Therewereseveralofus,Roma, who started sec-ondaryschool,but,unfor-tunatelyenough,itwasonlymewhosucceededinre-ceivingasecondaryschoolcertificate.IwastheonlyRomainthegroupwhostartedandgraduatedfromcollege.Myparentswereveryproudofme. Itwasa reallygreat thingsince Iwas thesecondRomanipersonintownwhohadreceivedcollegeeducation.Itwasintheframeworkoftheafter-schoolactivitiesprogramthatIhadanopportunitytomentorRomanichildren.Duringmentoring,thechildrenkeptaskingquestionsaboutmycollegeyears.Theythoughttheywouldneverbeabletomakeit.AsIwastellingthemmystory,Icametorealizethatit isexactlythroughmyownexamplethatIshallconvincethemtodoit.Later,Iwasveryhappywhenseveralofthem,follow-ingasuccessfulcompletionofsecondaryeducation,were admitted to colleges.A couple of years havepassedsince then, and soon these youngsterswillbecomeyoungRomanicollegegraduates.

ThisiswhyIagainagreedtotakearoleasamen-tor in this program, because I understand that if,throughtheafter-schoolactivities,acertainpropor-tion;ofstudentscanreceivehelp,evenmoreposi-tiveresultscanbeachieved.Throughmyownexam-ple, I amprobablyable tobetterdemonstrate thattheyreallycanmakeachange,andthattheirchildrencanhaveabetterlife,justletushelp.Iwouldliketoseethat,asa resultof theprogram;allchildren intheGuszevneighborhoodattendpre-schooleduca-tionanddevelopinahealthyway.Ifwemanagetoachievethis,wewillbesuccessful.

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An Introduction to Activities in romania

The `A Good Start` project, targeting children aged0-6years, isbeing implemented in two localities inRomania.AGSinvolves500Romaniandnon-Romanichildren and their families and operates in Moflenineighborhood,fromCraiova,DoljCountyandTelechiuvillage,BihorCounty.

AGSemphasizesthebuildingoflastingpartnershipsamongRomaniparents,educationauthoritiesandin-stitutions,localgovernmentandcivilsociety.ProjectactivitiesinRomaniaemploytheexperienceandre-sources of REF and its partners to strengthen pre-schooleducationandfacilitatesuccessfultransitionsintotheprimaryeducationsystem.ByincreasingtheenrollmentofRomanichildrenintopre-schooleduca-

tionfromtheageofthree,AGSensuresthatchildrenin the two participating rural localities benefit frompre-school education, both for the educational andsocial benefits and as a stepping stone to primaryeducation. In addition, AGS draws attention to keyaspectsofpreventivehealthcareandearlychildhooddevelopment.AsaresultofthesuccessofAGS,thepre-school will be expanding with the opening ofcommunitycentreinMofleniandanewkindergartengroupandearlycareforchildrenaged0-3yearsinthecommunitycentrefromTelechiu.

AGSisfoundedonacommonsetofactivitiesfacili-tatedinallcountries,includingawarenessraisingandenrollmentassistance;need-basedmaterialsupport;preparationfortransitiontoprimaryeducation;diver-sitytrainingforteachingstaff;andtrainingforRomacommunityworkers (mediators). Inaddition,uniqueprogramcomponentsaredevelopedtomeetthespe-cificneedsofeachlocality.

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Implementing partners in romania

romani CrISS – roma Centre for Social Inclusion and Studies

Anon-governmentalorganisation,whichdefendsandpromotestherightsofRomainRomaniabyprovidinglegalassistanceincasesofabuseandworkstocombatandpreventracialdiscriminationagainstRomainallar-easofpubliclife,includingthefieldsofeducation,em-ployment,housing,andhealth.TheorganisationwasestablishedonApril4th,1993,inaperiodmarkedbytheviolentconflictsofthebeginningofthe‘90s.Sinceitsinception,theorganisationaddressedtheproblemsfaced by the Roma population from a human rightsperspective, by using specific tools such as conflictresolution,mediation,litigation,andadvocacy.RomaniCRISSisstructuresondepartmentsfocusedondiffer-ent,yetinterlinked,areasofactivities.AlongwiththeHumanRights,thesocialandthehealthdepartments,theeducationdepartmentworkson improvementofRomachildren access toeducation (pre-school, highschoolanduniversities),aswellasoncombatingcas-esofsegregationineducation(alongwiththehumanrightsdepartment).Contact person: Margareta Matache, Executive Director magda@romanicris.org

ruhama FoundationRuhamaFoundation isanon-governmentalorganisa-tion,non-profitandapolitical,wasestablishedin1996Itservesasanexpertorganization insocialfieldwithan interdisciplinary team which develops programs

andservicesinresponsetosocialneedsofvulnerablegroupsandcommunitiesfromtheregioninordertoin-creasetheirqualityofliferegardlessethnicity,religionandgender.

Theeducationalprogramsthattargetchildrenfromdisadvantagedcommunitieshavebeenconsolidatedin23communitiesinBihorCountyandhavegener-atedaseriesofworthyresultsaswellasbestprac-ticespromotedat anation-widescaleby theMin-istry of Education. In the last years, Ruhama alsoestablishedaseriesofaccreditedsocialservicestoaddressbasicneedsofvulnerablesocialcategories:HomeCareServicesforElderlyandPeoplewithDis-abilities,CitizensAdviceBureauandtheCounselingandSupportCentreforParentsandChildren,alongwithtrainingandemploymentservices,communitydevelopmentandhousing.Contact person: Marian Daragiu, Chairman marian.daraghiu@ruhama.ro

Step by Step in romaniaCarmen Lica, Executive Director of Step by Step Romania carmenlia@stepbystep.ro

Roma Education Fund Mark Center Teréz körút 46 H-1066 Budapest, Hungary Tel. +36-1-235-8030 Fax. +36-1-235-8031info@romaeducationfund.org www.romaeducationfund.org

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