Children living in isolated communities to a great extent inherit the community’s cultural and educational perception, which hinders their social integration and leads to manifestation of discriminatory behavior and inequality. The major needs of the target groups are connected with the creation of conditions for raising awareness and understanding between different ethnic groups in schools. A similar effect can be achieved through systematic efforts to overcome prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination on ethnic grounds. This led to the idea for the implementation of a project in two different multicultural societies in different geographical regions, but with identical problems.
Project activities were implemented in 4 schools – in the Municipalities of Ihtiman, Silistra and Sitovo (Iskra Village). The project aimed at limiting the manifestation of discriminatory behaviour on ethnic grounds and human rights' abuse in the educational system. Several teachers from the schools passed through specialized training for introducing the informal interactive approach “Educational theatre”. Under this approach, representatives of the different ethnic communities change their status in the form of games. The chilldren emotionally „take the role“ of the other and start seeing and feeling the world through his/her „eyes“. The “Educational theatre” approach was applied in schools during the school year. At the end of project activities, several open classes were conducted with the participation of parents and teachers, and the results were summarized and analyzed. The project events included conducting multicultural activities entitled "Children's parties of tolerance" with the participation of mixed groups of children from the selected schools and parents from Ihtiman, Sitovo and Silistra. Joint sports events were implemented, where the children had the opportunity to participate in mixed teams and to feel the spirit of the team and friendship. Information on project activities was also available on the web site developed under the project. A report „Research of best practices for antidiscriminatory approaches in schools“ was developed and presented at a round table held in Sofia in September 2010. A proposal for applying the new and creative antidiscriminatory approaches in the educational system was submitted to the educational institutions. In addition, information meetings for promoting the results and the possibilities for exchange of best practices with other educational centres were conducted at several places.
The results can be divided into the following:
Qualitative:
The project supported the development of civil society in mixed ethnical regions by mobilizing four school communities to reduce instances of ethnic discriminatory behavior and human rights abuse in the educational system. A new approach - “educational theatre” - was developed. Teachers from the corresponding schools applied it in four ethnically isolated schools in the Municipalities of Silistra, Sitovo and Ihtiman. Its application had a positive impact on students, their parents, teachers and institutional representatives and made them realize the consequences of the different forms of discrimination, including on ethnic grounds. Successful partnerships were established aiming to protect human rights and limit the instances of discriminatory behavior. A significant impetus was given for overcoming the stereotypes and constraints which lead to dropout of students from school. As a whole, the project succeeded in creating a supportive civil environment for equality in the educational system and contributed to the civil society development in two geographical regions of Bulgaria.
Quantitative:
- „Educational theatre“ approach developed;
- Report „Research and analysis of best practices and anti-discriminatory approaches in the educational system“ developed;
- Principal proposal to the institutions submitted;
- 16 teachers trained for work with the new approach;
- 64 individual classes and 16 open classes dedicated to the „Educational theatre“ approach conducted;
- 6 joint tolerance parties held;
- 6 sports events held;
- 400 children trained;
- 780 children, included in the joint events;
- 193 parents involved in project activities
Contact information
Tsvetelina Yordanova Neshkova, Project manager
167A „Evlogi Georgiev“ Blvd., 1st floor, Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel.: +359 2 944 63 89
Fax: +359 2 944 13 50
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