Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Children's Day Centre "Lachipe"
Lik Cultural Centre
Background
The Roma population in Pleven inhabits a differentiated neighbourhood far from the town center. Children are going to a separate school, thus deprived of the possibility to communicate with Bulgarian children of their age. They are not motivated to go to school on a regular basis, thus tending to fall into the group of pupils of deviate behavior. In this context the risk of Roma children being rejected by the local Bulgarian community is real. In an effort to break this vicious circle and to enable Roma children to communicate with their peers and promote their development Lik Culture Center proposed the idea for a Children s Day Center establishment.
The Roma population in Pleven inhabits a differentiated neighbourhood far from the town center. Children are going to a separate school, thus deprived of the possibility to communicate with Bulgarian children of their age. They are not motivated to go to school on a regular basis, thus tending to fall into the group of pupils of deviate behavior. In this context the risk of Roma children being rejected by the local Bulgarian community is real. In an effort to break this vicious circle and to enable Roma children to communicate with their peers and promote their development Lik Culture Center proposed the idea for a Children s Day Center establishment.
Practice
The project , funded by the Co-operating Netherlands Foundations for Central and Eastern Europe, has the following main objectives:
1. To integrate Roma children with their Bulgarian peers, thus overcoming their social isolation through joint activities and games.
2. To create a favourable environment for investigation and development of children s capabilities through acquiring knowledge regarding their ethnic background, culture, arts, etc. 3. To transform the dominant negative attitude towards Roma population into a well-intentioned and tolerant one and to create good relationships between the children of different ethnic groups through popularization of Roma arts by the children themselves.
4. To improve the living environment of Roma population.
The Lachipe (Goodness) Children s Day Center hosts 74 children of Roma origin at primary school age. The ground floor of the culture center building was reconstructed, furnished and equipped in accordance with the Center s needs. Thus three separate premises, namely a classroom, a hall for TV and games, and a communication corner have been formed. A survey on Roma children s interests, desires and capabilities was made, as a result of which they are included in one of the three modules (music, pictorial and plastic arts, and theater), developed by the School for Talented Children to the Center. The curricula were prepared on the basis of Roma music, fairy-tales and themes concerning everyday life and culture. Children of Bulgarian origin have also been included in the groups. Distinguished artists from the City of Pleven are engaged as lecturers. Furthermore, two educational courses on health and moral issues have been delivered to the Roma children.
In the games hall the children of different ethnic groups are placed in their natural communication environment, assisted by volunteer animators. The theatrical performance, the musical concert and the exhibition of children s paintings opened at the Pleven Municipal Art Gallery have had a strong response within the community. The aim of the performances was not only to demonstrate children s achievements but also to raise funds in view of the future organizational sustainability.
A very important part of project activities is the preliminary training that the Culture Center staff and the volunteers engaged in the project implementation have had with the purpose of improving their own skills to work with children of different ethnic groups.
In the course of the project implementation a Public Council on Intercultural Issues has been established. This structure is the first of its kind in Pleven, aiming at incorporating distinquished community-minded people, NGO leaders and local government representatives.
The partnership established between the Culture Center and the local media has been a very useful one. Each step of the project activities has been announced in press-conferences and published in the media, thus creating a favourable environment for public dialogue on ethnic relations issues.
Towards the end of the project a long-term strategic plan of Lachipe Children s Day Center has been elaborated and approved by the Board of Trustees. As part of its implementation a project replicating the experience accumulated in Pleven Region is designed. The project More effort, more understanding. Establishment of a network of Culture Centers from the Pleven region for integration of Roma children through intercultural dialogue is funded by the European Union through the Civil Society Development Foundation and administered by Knowledge Association, Lovech.
The project , funded by the Co-operating Netherlands Foundations for Central and Eastern Europe, has the following main objectives:
1. To integrate Roma children with their Bulgarian peers, thus overcoming their social isolation through joint activities and games.
2. To create a favourable environment for investigation and development of children s capabilities through acquiring knowledge regarding their ethnic background, culture, arts, etc. 3. To transform the dominant negative attitude towards Roma population into a well-intentioned and tolerant one and to create good relationships between the children of different ethnic groups through popularization of Roma arts by the children themselves.
4. To improve the living environment of Roma population.
The Lachipe (Goodness) Children s Day Center hosts 74 children of Roma origin at primary school age. The ground floor of the culture center building was reconstructed, furnished and equipped in accordance with the Center s needs. Thus three separate premises, namely a classroom, a hall for TV and games, and a communication corner have been formed. A survey on Roma children s interests, desires and capabilities was made, as a result of which they are included in one of the three modules (music, pictorial and plastic arts, and theater), developed by the School for Talented Children to the Center. The curricula were prepared on the basis of Roma music, fairy-tales and themes concerning everyday life and culture. Children of Bulgarian origin have also been included in the groups. Distinguished artists from the City of Pleven are engaged as lecturers. Furthermore, two educational courses on health and moral issues have been delivered to the Roma children.
In the games hall the children of different ethnic groups are placed in their natural communication environment, assisted by volunteer animators. The theatrical performance, the musical concert and the exhibition of children s paintings opened at the Pleven Municipal Art Gallery have had a strong response within the community. The aim of the performances was not only to demonstrate children s achievements but also to raise funds in view of the future organizational sustainability.
A very important part of project activities is the preliminary training that the Culture Center staff and the volunteers engaged in the project implementation have had with the purpose of improving their own skills to work with children of different ethnic groups.
In the course of the project implementation a Public Council on Intercultural Issues has been established. This structure is the first of its kind in Pleven, aiming at incorporating distinquished community-minded people, NGO leaders and local government representatives.
The partnership established between the Culture Center and the local media has been a very useful one. Each step of the project activities has been announced in press-conferences and published in the media, thus creating a favourable environment for public dialogue on ethnic relations issues.
Towards the end of the project a long-term strategic plan of Lachipe Children s Day Center has been elaborated and approved by the Board of Trustees. As part of its implementation a project replicating the experience accumulated in Pleven Region is designed. The project More effort, more understanding. Establishment of a network of Culture Centers from the Pleven region for integration of Roma children through intercultural dialogue is funded by the European Union through the Civil Society Development Foundation and administered by Knowledge Association, Lovech.
Results
- A Children s Day Center, the first of its kind, has been established in Pleven. The project itself includes a reliable mechanism for sustainable self-funding. Among the activities accomplished by the Center are:
Integration of Roma children with their Bulgarian peers through joint activities and games.
Development of children s capabilities and subsequent performance and popularization of Roma arts and culture. Motivation of Roma children to attend school regularly and building up their self-confidence.
- A Public Council on Intercultural Issues with its own status and elected management body was established.
- The Culture Center staff has been gaining experience in working with children of different ethnic groups, and sharing it with similar organizations.
- Public dialogue on interaction between people of different ethnic groups has been initiated within the local community.
- A Children s Day Center, the first of its kind, has been established in Pleven. The project itself includes a reliable mechanism for sustainable self-funding. Among the activities accomplished by the Center are:
Integration of Roma children with their Bulgarian peers through joint activities and games.
Development of children s capabilities and subsequent performance and popularization of Roma arts and culture. Motivation of Roma children to attend school regularly and building up their self-confidence.
- A Public Council on Intercultural Issues with its own status and elected management body was established.
- The Culture Center staff has been gaining experience in working with children of different ethnic groups, and sharing it with similar organizations.
- Public dialogue on interaction between people of different ethnic groups has been initiated within the local community.
[Nominate]
back