TRAINING OF YOUNG ROMA LEADERS

In addition to working with school children and their parents, special attention in the ‘Programme of Support in Education and Integration of Roma Children into the School System’, is given to training young Roma high school students as potential future Roma leaders.

This training aims to actively involve Roma leaders in the effort to create a better future for Roma communities as a whole, through the education process and through the implementation of models of support for educational needs in their communities.

The process of creating a new generation of young Roma who have begun to develop through the project of support in education is underway. A special support and training plan was organized to empower them in this process.

Since 2013, 15 young Roma men and women have undergone training, five of whom have successfully completed the training programme and have then been employed directly in the project.

Activities:

•  Motivational and educational workshops are organized for young Roma men and women who attend high school, to support them in education, and to help them focus on the labour market or further education after graduation. Workshops of two hours length are held once a month, and up to 10 high school students participate in them.
•  Training is organized for young Roma potential leaders/local assistants who have graduated high school or have completed high school/college, for them to be involved in work with children in the project, and to apply the same model of support in educating children in their Roma communities. Up to 10 young Roma men and women go through the training which consists of:


•  Practical training for working with children from 1st to 4th and from 5th to 8th grade for one school year.
•  Four seminars a year on the topics - Roma child and school, Teaching and learning of primary school children, Developmental characteristics for primary school children, Development of communication skills, Developmental approach to learning and teaching through workshop activity.
•  Regular monthly meetings with teachers/mentors to share experiences, plan activities, and report on accomplishments.
•  Selection and employment in the Bread of Life programme for young leaders and local assistants who excelled in practical training and training to work with children.