City of Kraljevo - "Inclusion of vulnerable fellow citizens for a sustainable community” project

City of Kraljevo

PROJECT TITLE: Inclusion of vulnerable fellow citizens for a sustainable community

VALUE: EUR 58,350

DURATION: 12 months

PARTNER: Citizens' Association "Hands of Friendship"

The project "Inclusion of Vulnerable Citizens for a Sustainable Community," funded by the European Union, is implemented by the City of Kraljevo in cooperation with the Citizens' Association "Hands of Friendship" and supported by the Kraljevo Social Work Center.  The project aims to improve the position of children from the Roma population and socially vulnerable families.  The focus is on providing support to children in preparation for the educational process, engaging in social activities, and developing parental skills.

Through early training of children and parents conducted by field associates, it is planned that children will be better prepared and have equal chances to assimilate school curriculum when they enter the educational system, thereby creating conditions for children from vulnerable groups to fully realize their capacities and develop motivation for learning.  The goal is to maximally reduce factors that influence the dropout of children from the educational system.  Fieldwork includes individualized support for children and families, addressing language barriers and health difficulties, and connecting with the non-governmental sector and local services.

The long-term relevance of this program is reflected in creating opportunities for all children to stay equally in the education system, and later, professional training of young Roma, which ultimately ensures their full social inclusion and exit from the cycle of poverty.

Families involved in project activities, as well as all other members of the Roma population in the City of Kraljevo, will receive a bilingual Guide to Accessing Rights in the Local Community.

The project includes the reconstruction of the space of the Kraljevo Center for Social Work, which will be used for education and training of professionals from different systems and the implementation of thematic workshops for children and adults, primarily on this project.  Specifically, in the renovated space, Roma families will have the opportunity to enhance parental skills in an interactive process, and the space itself will represent an important resource for the city and community.

Part of the project activities is the implementation of thematic psycho-educational workshops for children and parents from the Roma population, with the aim of improving their parenting skills, and thematic round tables intended for representatives of institutions and organizations, which can more or less influence the life of the Roma family, more specifically the child from the Roma population. Thematic round tables will inform and sensitize representatives of the judiciary, education system, police, health, labor inspection and organizations that deal with children about the importance of preventing the problems of human trafficking, early marriages and dropping out of Roma children from the education system. Activities are aimed at raising the awareness of representatives of institutions and the wider community for their own contribution and action, which builds an inclusive society.

Contact person: Mirjana Prodanović (projektni.centar@gmail.com).