Country Launch events of the A Good Start pilot project
In autumn 2010, REF officially launched the AGS project in each participating country. These high level launch events were organized as an official introduction of all partners and to inform everyone interested about the AGS project. We invited government representatives, local municipality leaders and all local implementing partners – Roma NGOs, mentors and facilitators, kindergarten teachers and other professionals. The events were well received by the public and the media.
In autumn 2010, REF officially launched the AGS project in each participating country. These high level launch events were organized as an official introduction of all partners and to inform everyone interested about the AGS project. We invited government representatives, local municipality leaders and all local implementing partners – Roma NGOs, mentors and facilitators, kindergarten teachers and other professionals. The events were well received by the public and the media. In some cases these country launch events were accompanied by field visits during which we met our local partners and observed their daily activities.
The first country launch event took place on 10 September, 2010 in Hungary, in the Vilmos Westsik Secondary Grammar and Vocational School of food industry in Nyíregyháza. Approximately 50 participants gathered, including the vice-mayor of Nyíregyháza, the dean of the College of Nyíregyháza, leaders of local municipalities, experts in early childhood education, teachers, NGOs and others interested in educational issues. The partners shared information related to the programme, and most of the national and local media agencies covered the event. (https://www.romaeducationfund.org/media-coverage-ags) In her presentation, Dr. Mária Herczog, UN expert, emphasized the importance of early childhood education and care programme services. Following the event, the audience visited the Local Gypsy Self-Government where the leader spoke about the problems of the Roma families in Nyíregyháza. This was followed by a visit to a Roma neighbourhood called Keleti-settlement. Active discussions took place with the future beneficiaries of the project who expressed their excitement about the future cooperation.
The second launch event took place in Slovakia on 19 October 2010 in Hotel Borik, Bratislava. Among the speakers were Mr. Jaroslav Ivanco, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Mr. Miroslav Pollak, Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities of the Government. Officials of four local governments were also present and expressed their commitment and willingness to support the project. The media coverage was outstanding with TV channels, radio stations and newspapers enthusiastically interested in informing the public about the AGS initiative.
The Macedonian country launch event, the third in the round, took place on 27 October, 2010. This event was hosted by Spiro Ristovski, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy, and Neždet Mustafa, Minister without portfolio and the National Coordinator of the Decade of Roma Inclusion. The launching conference was held at the Law Faculty of ‘Justinian I’, St. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje. In her engaging presentation, the university professor and expert Ms. Violeta Petrovska Beshka underlined the importance of interventions made in the early years of a child’s development. Ms. Violeta Petrovska Beshka supported her arguments with budget figures, and concluded that the earlier one invests in education, the better are the returns one shall expect. The Roma Education Fund was represented at the event by the Project Manager, Country Officer and the Country Facilitator.
Finally, the Romanian launch event took place in Oradea on 11-12 November 2010. Similarly to the Country Launch events held earlier, many high level officials and representatives of the Romanian Government attended, including the Ministry of Education and representatives of the Bihor School Inspectorate. The opening speech was delivered by the Chair of REF Board, Mr. Costel Bercus. He spoke about the newly established office of REF Networks in Bucharest which will ensure the smooth implementation of the European Structural Funds promoting the social inclusion of Roma in Romania. He also stressed the importance of strong partnerships in joint projects such as the AGS.
On the second day of the launch, the AGS team visited Telechiu, a nearby community, where the Ruhama Foundation operates. Participants visited kindergartens which, without the support from the AGS project, would have been closed. One of the schools was the Multifunctional Building of Facility Social Center located in the middle of the Roma community in Telechiu. This multifunctional building was created and maintained by our local partner and financed from the Romanian Fund for Social Development. The vulnerable Roma community of Telechiu receives a range of services and support from the centre, for instance through a day care centre for school age children, a public bath, public washing machines and a Counselling and Information Center. Various types of AGS activities are implemented in the Roma community of Telechiu, including community events and a day-care centre for the youngest children (0-3 years) and pre-school aged children (3-6 years). The photos below were taken in the newly built Multifunctional Center.
As there is no running water supply, sewage, or gas supply in the Roma settlement in Telechiu, the centre is the only facility with available running water and washing machines. In this regard, the centre plays a significant role in easing the lives of the Roma families. In addition, it provides other services such as afternoon classes and music lessons. During the field trip, we visited families in their homes, which allowed us to gain a better understanding of their daily problems and current needs of the families.
In the photo below you can see a grandmother cooking on the stove and her granddaughter in a one-room wooden shelter. The child is six months old; her mother is employed by the nearby shoe factory. Since the house cannot be heated adequately, they have to wear warm clothes all day long. Five family members sleep in two large beds, and use the same room for eating, sleeping, taking baths, etc.