“Build your own future through education”, final results after three years of the project
Press release | 04.12.2023
The Roma Education Fund Romania Foundation organized on November 28, 2023, at the Secondary School in Scarișoara, Olt county, the closing event of the project “Build your own future through education” – MySMIS code 146032 – co-financed from the European Social Fund through the Human Capital Operational Program .
The event was attended by Marius Căldăraru, advisor within the Ministry of Education, Iulia Vlad, school inspector for monitoring programs regarding access to education within the Olt County School Inspectorate, Lăcrămioara Cule, the director of Scarișoara Secondary School, the principals of the other schools involved in the project and other special guests .
“I am happy to note that this project had a significant impact in the communities where I worked. The results obtained show us that the young NEETs want to complete their studies, an even more gratifying thing is the fact that the girls from the communities are back on the school benches. The education of our beneficiaries, who are also mothers, had a positive effect that extended to their families and implicitly to the communities they belong to. Even though the project was challenging, the involvement of all actors was the key to success in achieving the results, and I take this opportunity to thank them all.” – Ionela Cristea, director of REF Romania programs.
10 schools from as many communities were involved in the project:
- Ciucurova Secondary School, Tulcea county
- Toplog Technological High School, Tulcea county
- Izbiceni High School, Olt county
- Scarișoara Secondary School, Olt county
- “Virgil Mazilescu” High School, Corabia, Olt county
- “Ștefan Diaconescu” High School, Potcoava, Olt county
- Professional School “H. P. Bengescu”, Ivesti, Galați county
- Barcea Secondary School, Galati county
- Dragănești Secondary School, Galați county
- Gruia Secondary School, Mehedinți county
Also, some of the secondary schools have created partnerships with technological high schools and with local economic agents to support the internship programs.
“Collaboration with REF was, for us, a great chance and a joy, an opportunity to provide quality education by collaborating with a team of professionals from whom we learned day by day, not only that it is possible, but also how to we reduce the educational gaps between the members of our community. The ADS program was a blessing for the 102 students who, thanks to this second chance, have a much more optimistic perspective on their social and professional integration” – Lăcrămioara Cule, director of Scărișoara Secondary School, Olt county .
Among the results of the project we mention:
- Approximately 400 young people reintegrated into the education system through the ADS program.
- More than 130 young people completed the primary or secondary ADS program.
- 24 young people obtained a qualification following the completion of the internships.
- 346 subsidies were offered to beneficiaries to promote the level of study.
- 2 internship programs in Ciucurova and Ivesti (1440 hours).
- 12 young people from Ciucurova obtained the qualification of farmer – field crops.
- 12 young people from Ivești obtained the qualification of fabricator of textile products.
- 120 tablets purchased through the project for beneficiaries.
- Intercultural workshops and activities at the community level, plus a project-wide campaign on intercultural education, inclusive schooling, civic education and personal development.
The objective of the project was to increase the quality of the labor force, especially that represented by young people without a job, education or training, including those at risk of social exclusion and young people from marginalized communities (young NEETs). The project facilitated their access to support programs and transition to the labor market in the South-West Oltenia, South-East and South Muntenia regions.
The “Build your own future through education” project focused on a target group of young NEETs from the localities of South-West Oltenia, South-East and South Muntenia. In partnership with schools in these regions, educational measures of the “Second Chance” type were implemented, benefiting a number of approximately 400 young NEETs.
“Regarding the sustainability of the project, some of the groups that started the ADS program through the project and did not manage to complete it will continue their studies with funding from the state budget. We are happy for the fact that at the School of Scarișoara, three ADS groups, respectively 55 people, continue the Second Chance program with support from public funds. Also, steps are being taken to continue the ADS programs in the other partner schools in the project, so that in the next period, the programs will be taken over by the County School Inspectorates with funding from the state budget. After the completion of the project, the expertise regarding the implementation of the Second Chance program, the trained people and the tools for vocational and professional counseling remain in the schools. We are delighted to see the positive results of this project and are determined to continue supporting young people to build their own futures through education and vocational training.” – Monica Călin, REF Romania technical expert.
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The “Build your own future through education” project – MySMIS code 146032 – is co-financed by the European Social Fund, through the Human Capital Operational Program 2014-2020. The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union or the Government of Romania. For detailed information about the other programs co-financed by the European Union, we invite you to visit www.fonduri-ue.ro. The total value of the project is 4,801,835.55 lei, and the amount of EU co-financing is 4,417,688.72 lei.
For additional information, please contact Ionela Cristea, Program Director, 021. 2000. 600, ionela.cristea@romaeducationfund.ro
