The Roma Education Fund has been awarded a grant in the amount of EUR 181,000 to implement an early childhood and adult education project in five localities in Macedonia. Improving Roma Employment through Education Innovation aims to increase the long-term employability of marginalized Roma communities through adult education and training, literacy programmes, and increased access to early childhood education and care.
The Roma Education Fund has been awarded a grant in the amount of EUR 181,000 to implement an early childhood and adult education project in five localities in Macedonia. Improving Roma Employment through Education Innovation aims to increase the long-term employability of marginalized Roma communities through adult education and training, literacy programmes, and increased access to early childhood education and care. The 24-month project, implemented with our Macedonian partner NGOs Kham and Ambrela and targeting Romani children aged zero to six and Romani mothers and fathers who stopped their education before the completion of secondary education, expects the following results:
• 72 Roma adults aged 18 to 40 (at least 40 Roma women) who have previously dropped out of school will receive their secondary education diploma
• 48 Roma adults aged 18 to 40 (at least 25 Roma women) who have previously dropped out of school will receive their primary education diploma
• 120 Roma children aged zero to six (at least 60 Roma girls) will be involved in the project activities and will regularly attend pre-school or primary school
• 50 Roma children aged zero to six (at least 15 Roma girls) will be enrolled into preschool or primary school
• Five women’s empowerment and support groups composing of at least 15 women will be established
Adult education activities provide second-chance training for Roma adults working towards obtaining official, state-issued primary and secondary education diplomas. Early childhood development and care activities not only provide after-school training and support to Roma pupils, but also conduct training for pedagogical staff and school administrators. Supporting Romani children and their families with transportation, immunizations and vaccinations are also essential activities to increase the rate of Romani children’s enrollment in early childhood care and services. A further innovative component which complements the traditional education activities is the establishment of women’s empowerment and support groups in each of the project’s five localities, where they will have the opportunity to discuss issues pertaining to employment, education, and gender rights during weekly support groups and monthly community meetings.
Improving Roma Employment through Education Innovation will run through late 2017 in Delchevo, Shuto Orizari – Skopje, Vinica, Trabotivishte and Crnik.
With the support of IPA – Human Resources Development of the European Union.
