On 01.12.2020 was held online training of trainers under the Small Grants Program “How to raise healthy and smart children”, an initiative of the REYN Network – Bulgaria.
Read more “Training of trainers within the program “How to raise healthy and smart children””
For Ivan and his family, the autumn of 2020 turned out to be very different. Ivan had his first day at the University of Shumen “Archbishop Konstantin Preslavski”, and his wife had her first day at high school. Their son had his first day at kindergarten. Read more “First Person from the Roma Community with a University Degree”
The International Step by Step Association (ISSA) and the 11 national associations that are part of the International Network for Early Childhood Development (REYN International) joined a new joint project called “Inclusion and Equity for Roma Children and Families”.
Over the next two years, they will work together to support the early childhood development of all Roma children (birth to 10) living in 11 countries in Europe – Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, Italy, Serbia , Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine, and more.
In the words of project coordinator Aljosa Rudas, during the first meeting held in October – “This project will contribute to improving the sustainability of initiatives within REYN International and its community, its sense of belonging, professionalism and positioning on the international and national stage. The project will also contribute to taking coordinated and relevant action, as well as building on the strengths of the REYN International community, as a whole. “We are well-equipped to respond to the needs of Roma communities, and our main goal is to advocate for the development of more supportive and inclusive policies within the EU.”
Let us wish success to all countries and partner organisations directly involved in the implementation of the project “INCLUSION AND CAPITAL FOR ROMA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES”.
On 18th November 2020, REYN organized webinar on the topic “How to develop socio-emotional skills at an early age”. Read more “Webinar: “How to develop socio-emotional skills at an early age?””
As I’m starting my third year as a Psychology student in the Plovdiv University, my parents are finishing their secondary education via distant learning. This fact alone stands as testimony for the shift in the attitudes of Roma people in Bulgaria in the last few decades. While during my parents’ childhood school might have not been regarded as an important part of their lifepath, today education is a number one priority for people from our ethnicity.
Some of the kindergartens in Bulgaria are attended by a significant number of children from the Roma community. Nevertheless, the number of Roma educators is extremely low. From a young age, children need someone to look up to in order to be able to recognize their own potential; someone who can serve as their role model. Kindergartens working with vulnerable communities can support this process of building confidence and inspiting children by employing teachers from Roma backgrounds.
“Ma’am, I want a shuvalka!” The little boy from the “Lily” kindergarten in the Hrishteni village is pulling his teacher’s sleeve as he’s looking around for the object in question with an inquiring look on his face. “What do you want, a chuval[1]?” asks the teacher, perplexed. I go into the building of the preschool, take the shuvalka and hand it amusedly to the young worker wannabe whose mother tongue is Romani.
When I was a child, my grandma, Petra, would pick me up from kindergarten in our lovely village Vladimirovo in the Montana region and take me to the local patisserie. At that time, my parents worked in Montana and couldn’t look after me during the week which is why we got together only on weekends. It seems that my grandma saw in the small patisserie with all kinds of delicious treats a small substitute for the peaceful and joyful evenings spent together with family.
Sevda is 28 years old and is a successful Roma woman. She has been working as a nurse in a hospital in Sofia for four years and is part of the “Together – Healthy Baby, Healthy Future” program of the Trust for Social Alternative Foundation. Since last year she is also a happy mother.
Opre Roma! Stand-up, Roma!
Open letter: Celebrating International Roma Day Read more “Open letter: Celebrating International Roma Day – REYN International”
