In early April 2014, the Roma Education Fund (REF) Romania was awarded a total of EUR 4.185 million of European Structural Funds, in three projects aimed at closing the gap in educational outcomes between Roma and non-Roma in Romania.
In early April 2014, the Roma Education Fund (REF) Romania was awarded a total of EUR 4.185 million of European Structural Funds, in three projects aimed at closing the gap in educational outcomes between Roma and non-Roma in Romania.
In response to this positive decision from the Romanian Managing Authority, [1] and consonant with REF’s aspiration and efforts for more European Structural Fund to be earmarked for Roma education, REF’s sister foundation, REF Romania, [2] has begun the preparatory stages for implementing this trio of interventions across Romania in the next eighteen months.
Two strategic projects support access to quality education for over 1,300 eligible, at-risk Romani pupils enrolled in lower and upper secondary schools, with another 620 Romani parents attending Second Chance programs and training for another 450 teaching professionals and NGO associates. A third strategic project provides scholarships and mentorships to some 340 students applying for or already enrolled in tertiary education.
REF Romania’s new projects will specifically (1) target some 340 students applying to or already enrolled in tertiary education as well as 15 relevant administrative staff (2) provide “Second Chance” services to 310 Romani adults, with additional scholarships and mentoring available for another 500 at-risk Romani pupils in grades 9-12, together with capacity building for 220 teaching and NGO professionals associated with the project; (3) provide access to education services for another 310 Romani adults and 800 children in grades 5-8, also with capacity building for 220 teaching and NGO professionals associated with the project. REF Romania is currently pooling together a task force of short-term and long-term experts, identifying and negotiating with participating schools and other partners, and fine-tuning its implementation plan for the initial stage of the projects for the work that will begin in the new school year.
With a growing track record of successfully leveraging European Structural Funds, REF is proving that its strategy of advocacy at the European and national level can generate real results whereby government decision-makers can be influenced to make available European funds that positively impact outcomes for Roma education and enable a new wave of Roma education projects in European member states like Romania.
After implementing four similar ESF projects that successfully closed in 2013 and reached over 4,000 disadvantaged Roma children over two years, the Roma Education Fund is encouraged by this trend of investments in the social, economic and human capital of Romania’s most disadvantaged population, offering new opportunities to receive integrated educational services, attend school and access higher education.
These three projects will work together: to provide support to Romani pupils from ages 12 to 20 at risk of early school leaving and with a proven need for scholarship and mentorship support, to upgrade the skills and competencies of Romani students currently enrolled in tertiary education, offer Second Chance services to reintegrate Romani adults into the labor market, and to develop the skills of teaching professionals and NGO professional engaged in this important work to improve educational outcomes from Roma in Romania.
REF believes this is a strong signal to Romanian as well as European policymakers that ESF can be harnessed to provide long-term and substantial support to foster social inclusion and improve educational outcomes for Roma.
More details will be forthcoming in the upcoming months as REF Romania begins to unroll these three projects across Romania.
For further information, visit the REF RO website or contact office@romaeducationfund.ro
Dan Pavel Doghi, National Director, and/or
Claudia Lixandru, Chief Finance and Operations Officer
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[1] Officially managed by POSDRU, an arm of the Ministry of Labor, Family and Equal Opportunities, as part of the Sectoral Operational Programme for Human Resources Development in Romania. Available online: http://www.fseromania.ro http://www.fonduri-structurale.ro/
[2] Together with its partners, the Agency for Community Development “Together” and the Foundation Resource Center for Roma Communities (CRCR).
