ROMA EDUCATION FUND LAUNCHED THE SECOND PHASE OF THE EMERGENCY FUND IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
The COVID-19 crisis and the sequence of heavy lockdowns have had severe implications on the Roma communities in all REF-supported countries, particularly on the wellbeing, economic and health situation of vulnerable families and students. The challenges affected education as well. All education systems in countries where REF operates have suffered by school closures and have had to adhere to immediate requirements of continuing to educate children in a remote mode.
EMERGENCY FUND PHASE I
During the period June – August 2020, implementing partner organizations of REF in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia conducted emergency response activities focusing on supporting the material, sanitary and educational needs of Roma students and families.
As reported by our grantees in these countries, the highest challenges that Roma families faced during this first phase support, was the slow reaction of governments to the crisis, leaving on the sideways an urging need of quick intervention in addressing the necessities of the Roma children and families. The Roma Education Fund, due to the already established network of partner organizations and due to the presence of ongoing REF funded projects in the countries, was well positioned to respond to these needs in the shortest time possible. These fast interventions (entailing a scheme of activities) could be an example of best practices for governments, local and national institutions in planning and executing strategic frameworks and policies strictly aiming at Roma.
In numbers, the three-months long Phase I of the Emergency Fund meant the following:
1,545 Roma students from primary, secondary, and tertiary education have been provided with smart devices and internet access to be able to follow remote learning successfully.
4,606 students in primary, secondary and tertiary education have been provided with mentoring and tutoring classes, both of which increased their chances to complete the academic year and in some cases, to transit from one school year to another.
900 families of children in Early Childhood Development schemes (ECD) have been provided with educational materials and toys through REF’s Toy Library programs.
545 children in primary education have been given didactic materials, textbooks, and online learning materials.
486 families have received assistance in enrolment of their children to ECD, primary, secondary and tertiary education, either with the help of mediators or through Matura exam preparations with tutors for the needed subject.
310 socially disadvantaged Roma families have been supplied with humanitarian aid packages.
EMERGENCY FUND PHASE II
The implementation period of Phase II has started from April 1st until June 10th, 2021 and the eligible countries are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The fund estimated of 234,863 EUR.
After careful assessment, the REF team and the networkers have decided that what would ease the immediate challenges of the ongoing academic year for the Roma students, REF beneficiaries, is related to provision of smart devices and internet access; mentoring and/ or tutoring with focus on preparation for graduation and entrance exams for primary and secondary school students, as well as for university students; delivery of educational toys and educational materials to Roma families and children to assist their development and a range of advocacy and visibility actions.
*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.
