The Roma Education Fund believes that investing early in children’s development creates the conditions for future school success. Toy Libraries — now operating in 19 marginalized Roma communities where REF supports education services inside and outside the EU in Hungary, Kosovo*, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Slovakia and Serbia — are a fundamental part of REF’s early childhood development model. In 2015 alone, over 2,500 individuals have regularly checked out toys that introduce both children and their caregivers to constructive, quality play.
The Roma Education Fund believes that investing early in children’s development creates the conditions for future school success. Toy Libraries — now operating in 19 marginalized Roma communities where REF supports education services inside and outside the EU in Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Slovakia and Serbia — are a fundamental part of REF’s early childhood development model. In 2015 alone, over 2,500 individuals have regularly checked out toys that introduce both children and their caregivers to constructive, quality play. In doing so they build sustainable relationships among themselves and with the wider community, while promoting the idea of learning by playing.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
