Early Years Matter

The previous name of the program:

Building Capacities for Effective Early Childhood Development of Marginalized Roma in Hungary

 

EARLY YEARS MATTER

February, 2018 – currently running

The overall goal of the program is to improve Early Childhood Development (ECD) of Roma children in Hungary by supporting local development efforts (projects) and improving capacities and expertise of Roma and pro-Roma NGOs working with marginalized Roma communities in Northeast Hungary by various means.

Specific objectives:

(1) To assist 10-15 Roma communities (through their established nonprofit organizations) to introduce the concept of Early Childhood Development and practice its methods in order to develop successful models in education combined with community development, and local collaboration building.

(2) To improve capacities of local Roma actors by various means (training, networking, study trip, etc.) in Northeast Hungary to effectively implement small scale programs focused of Early Childhood Development in local communities.

(3) To build a professional coalition of dedicated actors of Romani Early Years Development and the project promoters in country and across the borders (primarily with Slovak and possibly with Ukrainian stakeholders).

(4) To increase capacities at the Carpathian Foundation-Hungary in the field of Early Childhood Development with focus on analysis, strategy development and international networking;

(5) To widely promote the results and impact of successful initiatives, best practices of Early Childhood Development of marginalized Roma children in order to reduce bias and hatred against Roma in the target region.

The direct beneficiaries of the project are 10-15 Roma and pro-Roma non-profit organizations serving marginalized Roma communities primarily in North-Hungary and North-Great-Plain regions directly invited to submit project proposals.

The indirect beneficiaries are primarily marginalized Roma children and youth who are targeted to be improved, empowered by the projects of supported Roma and pro-Roma NGOs (approx. 300-400 children and youth); parents, other family members of the involved children, professionals, teachers, social workers, civil servants, and other affected stakeholders and members of communities where the involved organizations work (approx. 20.000 persons), and those who are informed by the communication related measures of the project (approx. 500.000 persons).

Activities:

(1) Needs assessment and situation analysis of the concept and practices of Early Childhood Development in Hungary.

 (2) Small grants (up to 10.000 EUR) with the aim to support local development initiatives of marginalized Roma communities in North-Eastern Hungary to assist their ways out of poverty, hopelessness and disparities.

(3) As capacity building, training and mentoring in ECD concept provided for the project promoters, and peer-to-peer support is facilitated and enhanced.

(4) Strategy development process in Hungary and inter-regionally in partnership with the Carpathian Foundation in Slovakia (and possibly in Ukraine) to assist (trans-frontier) networking of experts and practitioners, field workers of Romani Early Years Development.

(5) Working conference with approx. 100-150 participants from local and regional public and private institutions, governments, professionals, non-profit organizations, expert and other relevant stakeholders affected by the project, to raise attention to successful models of Early Childhood Development of marginalized Roma. A widely disseminated best practice brochure is prepared.

(6) Publicity, communication: continuous impact focused external communication of supported projects.

Expected impact:

  • As a result of the established network of the involved organizations the experience and information exchange, and the cooperation of marginalized Roma communities - primarily related to Early Childhood Development – will be outstandingly enhanced in Northeast Hungary.
  • By the training and other capacity development means Roma activists will be supported to be able to better serve their communities, and to contribute to the mitigation of educational disadvantages of Roma children.
  • An inter-regional alliance will be initiated by enhancing cross-border networking and collaboration of the project promoters and the involved key stakeholders to share experience, promote best practices, build bridges and coalition and advocate for Early Childhood Development of Roma children.

For more information please contact:

Boglárka Bata, CEO,

+36-36-516-750

boglarka.bata@cfoundation.org