Romani children and poverty, Croatia (2016)

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Author: International Step by Step Association

Romani children and poverty, Croatia (2016)

In this publication, REYN Croatia shows how poverty affects Romani children and how it generates a vicious circle that is hard to break. Poverty leads to socio-emotional and cognitive disadvantages, low school attendance, school drop out, all that leads to unemployment and, again, poverty. Quality education can break this cycle. Poor educational achievement of disadvantaged children is a consequence of the conditions they grow up in; and not a consequence of their actual cognitive capacities. Cognitive capacity, just like intelligence, is variable. Whether it increases or decreases, it depends on our approach to children.

Romani children and their first language, Croatia

In this study, REYN Croatia analyzes the second language acquisition process and the effort it requires. In Croatia, some Roma speak Romani Chib while some use the Bayash Romanian language, and Croatian is spoken as the second language. The bilingual or multilingual skills of Romani children should be considered an added value rather than something to be repressed, even at home with family. Bilingual or multilingual children are often better at mastering new languages. Teachers should consider the effort made by Romani children in following classes led in Croatian and they should help them by teaching in an interactive way, giving Romani children the possibility to develop and improve their first language skills, giving value to their background using some words or phrases in the pupils’ mother tongue.

Roma Empowerment and Support for Inclusion – Case study Rome, Italy

The case study clearly demonstrates both the urgent need for intervention and the challenges of working in a politically and economically hostile environment marked by discriminatory practices and segregation of Roma. It also showcases the importance of advocacy efforts and actions aimed at addressing child- and human rights and with awareness raising on the importance of inclusion of young Roma children and their families in the mainstream society.

Under the Capacity building of Roma supporting partners project, carried out by ISSA in partnership with Bernard van Leer Foundation (in 2014-2016), three case studies on  Roma Empowerment and Support for Inclusion were developed. This is one of the three case studies developed after the projects in Italy, Belgium and the UK/Northern Ireland. A “Synthesis report of the Case Studies in Ghent, Belfast and Rome – Policy Recommendation” is available here.

Read the case study in Italian here.

Roma Empowerment and Support for Inclusion – Case study Belfast, Northern Ireland

This case study features the potential of small scale community based interventions and the need to have strong anti-discrimination, social justice and peace-building components when working on Roma inclusion.

Under the Capacity building of Roma supporting partners project, carried out by the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) in partnership with Bernard van Leer Foundation (in 2014-2016), three case studies on  Roma Empowerment and Support for Inclusion were developed. This is one of the three case studies developed after the projects in Italy, Belgium and the UK/Northern Ireland. A “Synthesis report of the Case Studies in Ghent, Belfast and Rome – Policy Recommendation” is available here.

Roma Empowerment and Support for Inclusion – Case study Ghent, Belgium

The project aimed to support children from the age of 2 ½ years until the age of 12 in exercising their right to quality education by supporting their parents, improving communication between schools and parents, supporting school teams and building networks in the neighborhood. It was implemented by City of Ghent with financial support from the Bernard van Leer Foundation. Through the project, approximately 250 Roma children and their families were reached in 4 schools.

Under the Capacity building of Roma supporting partners project, carried out by ISSA in partnership with Bernard van Leer Foundation (in 2014-2016), three case studies on  Roma Empowerment and Support for Inclusion were developed. This is one of the three case studies developed after the projects in Italy, Belgium and the UK/Northern Ireland. A “Synthesis report of the Case Studies in Ghent, Belfast and Rome – Policy Recommendation” is available here.

Synthesis report of the Case Studies in Ghent, Belfast and Rome – Policy Recommendation

Based on the information provided in the three case studies around the projects funded by Bernard van Leer Foundation and implemented by partner organizations in Belfast, Ghent and Rome, this report shows the key findings in the studies. It summarizes the cross-national issues consolidated around four areas: 1. Parenting support; 2. Children’s access to quality early childhood services; 3. Influencing public awareness on Roma inclusion and early childhood development; 4. Capacity building and empowerment of Roma actors.

The policy recommendations were developed based on three case studies (in Belgium, Italy, Northern Ireland) and on the conclusions of the group discussions at the policy roundtable meeting organized by the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) in partnership with Bernard van Leer Foundation in Brussels, in September 2016. The policy recommendations regarding Roma empowerment and support for inclusion with a specific focus on young children, concerned: the importance of political will and finances; mediators as key actors for inclusion; strengths based approaches and family support as key entry point for inclusion; and comprehensive approaches as ways for breaking the barriers for inclusion.