Belgium Archives

European REYN Early Childhood Study at a glance

Category: early childhood | Types of resource: study | Year: 2023 | Region: Europe |

The REYN Early Childhood Research sheds light on young Roma children and their parents throughout Europe. The study brings together unprecedented Roma related early childhood data, exploring six key areas impacting upon the child’s development: family and living environment, health and well being, safety and security, early learning, responsive parenting, and discrimination and antigypsyism.

The study has been carried out in the 11 countries in which National REYNs operate: Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. Data has been analysed from questionaries, in depth interviews, and focus groups from over 900 people, including more than 500 Roma families, 312 professionals, 56 practitioners, and 47 policymakers. Despite drawing from a considerable sample size, the present data should not generalize the status of young Roma children and their families in countries or in Europe as a whole.

The findings from the REYN Early Childhood Research are of an indicative nature. They flag the challenges and barriers that need further investigation in order to inform transformative approaches and policy actions which may improve the status of young Roma children in Europe. In turn, this will enable each young Roma child to reach their full potential to grow and thrive!

Download Resource

Travelling Travellers. An overview of the living conditions of travelling Travellers and existing supporting initiatives

ENG: Travelling Travellers. An overview of the living conditions of travelling Travellers and existing supporting initiatives

NL: Rondtrekkende woonwagenbewoners. Een overzicht van de leefomstandigheden van rondtrekkende woonwagenbewoners en bestaande initiatieven ter ondersteuning

Travellers travel around for different reasons. While for some it is part of their specific way of life, in recent years an increasing number of Travellers in Flanders, Belgium have been forced to travel around due to a lack of encampment sites. This situation makes them vulnerable. Because this problem is relatively recent, however, the group of travelling Travellers has largely remained under the research radar until now. The aim of the present study, commissioned by the Flemish Agency for Home Affairs and conducted by the research institute HIVA, was therefore to gain more insight into the living and housing situation of travelling Travellers in Flanders, Belgium.

The research is focused on:

1) the living conditions and social participation of travelling Travellers,

2) the existing support, guidance and assistance for travelling Travellers.

Subsequently, policy recommendations based on the results of these two focus areas were made. Subject of the study were both Belgian and foreign travelling Travellers. Data was collected by various qualitative research methods, among which interviews with Travellers about their current and desired living situation and interviews with key figures such as practitioners and policy officers.

The resource is in Dutch language.