Bridging the learning gap - The Learning Centre, Roma Mahalla Mitrovicë/a Booklet 2013

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For the past three years, the Learning Centre has provided kindergarten, pre-school and homework support classes to the growing number of children and youth in Roma Mahalla.

Read more about the Centre's work or download the Booklet in English, Albanian or Serbian below:

 

Since 2009, Danish Refugee Council has supported its former implementing partner Caritas and current partner Roma and Ashkalia Documentation Center (RADC) to run the Learning Centre located in Roma Mahalla, Mitrovicë/a. The Centre is currently funded solely by Sida as part of the Community Development component of the DRC Kosovo Stabilisation of Roma, Ashkalia and Egyptian Communities Project in Roma Mahalla Mitrovicë/a.

 

Click the caption to download the Booklet:

Primary school children from Mitrovicë/a celebrate Universal Children's Day together

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'I have rights!'

Under this motto, children from the Learning Center in Roma Mahalla, invited children from primary schools Andon Zako Cajup, Bedri Gjina and Eqrem Qabej to celebrate Universal Children's Day in the cultural hall in Mitrovicë/a. This event celebrated around the world marks the day on which the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child  were adopted.

At the Learning Center, the children learned about their rights, made drawings and decorations and worked hard to perfect their performances.  On the  day, they recited poems, performed songs and dances and moderated the event themselves. 

In line with the ideals set down in the Charter which not only promote children's rights but also the understanding between children of different backgrounds and cultures, folklore dance groups from Roma Mahalla, and the Bosniak and Turkish community performed their traditional dances and gave the audience an insight into their culture and traditions.

The event was supported by the Municipal Department for Culture, Sport and Youth in Mitrovica, the Danish Refugee Council and Mercy Corps.

The Learning Center in Roma Mahalla is run by the RADC and funded by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) under the DRC Kosovo Stabilisation of Roma, Ashkalia and Egyptian Communities Project in Roma Mahalla Mitrovicë/Mitrovica which is  funded by Sida.

 

Learning Center brings parents and children together

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On 23 October the Learning Center in Roma Mahalla invited parents and children to a day of games and competitions at the sports hall in Mitrovicë/a. Roughly 60 parents and 100 children came and participated actively in the various activities devised by teachers and teacher assistants. Learning Center staff were pleased to welcome such a large number of parents, including both mothers and fathers.

 With the help of their parents, the children made cabbage heads from different vegetables, drawings and paper sculptures. Prizes for the best examples in the different categories were handed out by members of the judging panel consisting of Learning Center staff and representatives from OSCE.

For the past 3 years, the Learning Center has supported children between the ages of 3 to 15, providing pre-school classes and homework support for children enrolled in primary school in order to increase RAE children's chances to successfully participate in the mainstream school system in Mitrovicë/a.

The Learning Center is part of the DRC Kosovo Stabilisation of Roma, Ashkalia and Egyptian Communities Project in Roma Mahalla Mitrovicë/Mitrovica and is currently funded solely by Sida and run by DRC through its local implementing partner RAD Center.

 

“Seeing so many parents accompany their children, drawing and playing with them, is a sign that parents in Roma Mahalla are getting more and more involved in activities related to their children’s education. Besides making sure that children’s performance at school improves, engaging parents in Learning Center activities and encouraging them to take an active role in their child’s education is another priority for us ”
— says a member of staff at the Learning Center.