A., 14-years old Roma boy and a graduate from 7th school grade, lives in an improvised house in Sofa community in Vitez in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with his parents, sister and two brothers. As part of the daily routine, S.A. helps the 60-year-old father to provide for the family livelihood by collecting second hand raw materials. Due to the harsh living conditions in destitute poverty – being in a house without stable floor and roof, S.A. had insufficient GPA during Semester 1.
REF’s partner in the country, Roma Association “Strengthening – Zuralipe”, has recognized S.A.’s learning potential and supported the boy. During COVID-19 pandemic, when remote schooling was a requirement, S.A. did not have advanced technologies or any other equipment at home. Association “Zuralipe” negotiated with the teachers to provide the schoolboy with printed learning materials. S.A. has been preparing homework and sending it to his teachers for assessment and marks.
Additionally, S.A. has received a tablet with free internet access through the REF Covid-19 Emergency Fund Response for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Hence, S.A. completed the 2019/2020 school year with good GPA which is praiseworthy in conditions of impoverishment and pandemic.
The family of S.A. has been thankful for the assistance received by Association “Zuralipe”, for their insistent efforts to find way for Roma children to complete the school year, to Association “EURO ROM” for the smart device and to REF which has guaranteed funding to the two Roma organizations in the country, working towards improving the quality of education of Roma pupils.
Project “Inclusion of Roma Children in Compulsory Elementary Education System in the Municipality Vitez”, Bosnia and Herzegovina, BiH049, funded through the Grants Department of the Roma Education Fund
