The Ruth School in Bucharest, Romania, is part of the Providence Foundation. It is committed to giving education to the marginalized and disadvantaged, particularly for those coming from Roma (Gypsy) families in order to help them reach their highest potential. Through education, the Ruth School seeks to assist in the inclusion of Roma in society as well as their future educational endeavors (high school, vocational schools, etc.).
It all started in 1992, when the pastor of Providence Baptist Church was challenged to have his church do something for the Rroma children on the streets of the district around the church building. What began as a Sunday School program was extended to a day center and it soon evolved into a literacy class when it was realized that most of the children could neither read or write and had never been to school before.
After a few years the literacy class was registered as a primary school and soon Fundatia Providenta provided the institutional form which now is the Ruth School.In 1994 the Ruth School was awarded accreditation by the Educational Department for grades 1-4 and for grades 5-8 in 1999. In 2010, the Ruth School received its final accreditation. Today, there are 175 students registered; 70% of the students who graduated from Ruth School continued their studies in a pre-university education or trade school program in Bucharest. So far, the Ruth School has educated and taken care of more than 2000 students.
FUNDATIA PROVIDENTA - PROIECTUL RUT
Str. Lacul Bucura, nr 9-13 , sector 5,
Bucuresti 052464, Romania
Tel/Fax: +40 21 4510401
E-mail: office@projectruth.rowww.projectruth.ro
Website in Romanian, English, and German
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Cords in the Net
From time to time, organizations and individuals involved in Romany Education will be introduced in a blog post. This is to increase knowledge of one another and facilitate sharing information, questions, and ideas. If you have suggestions for "Cords in the Net(work)," please let us know.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Sa daruiesti sau nu daruri copiilor romi?
Din propria mea experienta cu copiii de etnie roma am invatat ca nu e bine sa mergi la acestia daruindu-le gratis tot felul de bunuri, deoarece creezi in ei o gandire nesanatoasa - “saracul de mine, eu nu pot sa fac nimic sa ies din situatia de saracie, doar tu poti si prin urmare, tu ai obligatia sa ma ajuti la nesfarsit”.
Daca doresti sa lucrezi cu copiii de etnie roma in cadrul unei scoli duminicale abordeaza-i pe copii prin tot felul de activitati sportive si distractive fara a le acorda dulciuri sau alte bunuri – cauta mai intai sa le castigi increderea, fa-i sa se simta importanti prin atentia pe care le-o acorzi, prin dragostea ta, respectul tau si nu prin bunuri materiale. Stiu ca se poate sa-ti fure chiar materialele pe care le folosesti pentru activitatile sportive sau jocurile distractive, de aceea te incurajez sa folosesti materiale din natura sau materiale confectionate manual.
Daca activitatile pe care le desfasori tine mai mult de o ora sau doua, poti sa le dai cate un sandwici sau snack,iar dupa ce s-a legat o relatie de prietenie si incredere poti sa-i rasplatesti pentru frecventa la grupa, pentru seriozitatea cu care abordeaza tot ceea ce-i inveti, pentru orice fapta buna, pentru respectul fata de tine si biserica (ma refer si la bunurile materiale utilizate in realizarea activitatilor tale) – intareste obiceiurile si deprinderile bune!
Vei intalni situatii cand vei fi rugat sa-i ajuti intr-o situatie delicata, urgenta si ei iti promit ca nimeni nu va afla, daca ii ajuti pe ei sau daca le dai lor anumite bunuri. Este o capcana, de aceea fii intelept si nu te lasa prins. Poti sa te limitezi la un numar restrans de persoane pe care sa le ajuti in mod direct abia dupa ce ai construit deja o relatie bazata pe incredere, respect reciproc, cand ai o tinta cu acestia si ei sunt dornici sa coopereze cu tine in atingerea scopului tau.
Pana atunci e bine sa nu sari sa rezolvi situatii urgente.
Nu crea nevoi nerealiste, nenecesare existentei prin darurile tale in mintea copiilor si nu crea imaginea unui har ieftin.
Ca sa se dezvolte armonios orice copil are nevoie de iubire, securitate, si interactiune cu toate elementele naturale( aer, soare,apa,pamant,plante, animale) – nu de jucarii scumpe; e adevarat ca aceasta te solicita pe tine mai mult dar el va deveni un om practic care va sti ce sa faca cu putinul de care are parte. E adevarat ca masmedia tocmai aceasta urmareste , sa trezeasca in noi nevoi de care de fapt nu avem nevoie, dar haideti sa nu fim promotori a ceea ce masmedia incearca sa faca din fiecare din noi-robii nevoilor egoiste, excentrice.
Cu mult drag
Alina Ivan
Daca doresti sa lucrezi cu copiii de etnie roma in cadrul unei scoli duminicale abordeaza-i pe copii prin tot felul de activitati sportive si distractive fara a le acorda dulciuri sau alte bunuri – cauta mai intai sa le castigi increderea, fa-i sa se simta importanti prin atentia pe care le-o acorzi, prin dragostea ta, respectul tau si nu prin bunuri materiale. Stiu ca se poate sa-ti fure chiar materialele pe care le folosesti pentru activitatile sportive sau jocurile distractive, de aceea te incurajez sa folosesti materiale din natura sau materiale confectionate manual.
Daca activitatile pe care le desfasori tine mai mult de o ora sau doua, poti sa le dai cate un sandwici sau snack,iar dupa ce s-a legat o relatie de prietenie si incredere poti sa-i rasplatesti pentru frecventa la grupa, pentru seriozitatea cu care abordeaza tot ceea ce-i inveti, pentru orice fapta buna, pentru respectul fata de tine si biserica (ma refer si la bunurile materiale utilizate in realizarea activitatilor tale) – intareste obiceiurile si deprinderile bune!
Vei intalni situatii cand vei fi rugat sa-i ajuti intr-o situatie delicata, urgenta si ei iti promit ca nimeni nu va afla, daca ii ajuti pe ei sau daca le dai lor anumite bunuri. Este o capcana, de aceea fii intelept si nu te lasa prins. Poti sa te limitezi la un numar restrans de persoane pe care sa le ajuti in mod direct abia dupa ce ai construit deja o relatie bazata pe incredere, respect reciproc, cand ai o tinta cu acestia si ei sunt dornici sa coopereze cu tine in atingerea scopului tau.
Pana atunci e bine sa nu sari sa rezolvi situatii urgente.
Nu crea nevoi nerealiste, nenecesare existentei prin darurile tale in mintea copiilor si nu crea imaginea unui har ieftin.
Ca sa se dezvolte armonios orice copil are nevoie de iubire, securitate, si interactiune cu toate elementele naturale( aer, soare,apa,pamant,plante, animale) – nu de jucarii scumpe; e adevarat ca aceasta te solicita pe tine mai mult dar el va deveni un om practic care va sti ce sa faca cu putinul de care are parte. E adevarat ca masmedia tocmai aceasta urmareste , sa trezeasca in noi nevoi de care de fapt nu avem nevoie, dar haideti sa nu fim promotori a ceea ce masmedia incearca sa faca din fiecare din noi-robii nevoilor egoiste, excentrice.
Cu mult drag
Alina Ivan
Is Giving Goods a Good Idea?
From my own experience with Roma kids I had learned that it is not good to approach them by giving them all kind of gifts; through this you risk to develop a wrong mentality in themselves: “The wretched, pitiable me – I cannot do anything to change my situation, therefore just you can help me and you must provide always everything I need.”
If you wish to work with Roma kids as part of the church, or school, approach them without offering them sweets or other goods. Start by playing all kind of sport activities or fun activities with them. Seek first to earn their trust. Make them to feel valuable through your attention, through your love, through your respect. Don't try to buy their trust through your goods.
I know sometimes there’s the risk that the articles you are using for these activities will “disappear.” Be smart and use natural material or cheap material, or something which you made of it. If your activities will be longer than two hours, feel free to give the children a sandwich or a snack.
Only after you have made them friends and they trust you, consider reinforcing all their good habits with a small reward. For example, depending on the child’s behavior, they might earn a toy or some clothes, or any toiletries article. Reward their seriousness toward all the activities, goods, tasks, other people. Reward their frequent attendance (not very often, but do it), and reward any good habit.
Do not create unrealistic, unnecessary needs through your gifts and do not create the image of a cheap grace. To develop harmoniously each child needs love, security and interaction with all the natural elements (air, sun, water, ground, plants, animals . . .). They do not need expensive toys. Spending time in nature will require more time from you, but on this way the child will become a practical person who will know what to do with the least of goods that he has got.
It is true that the mass-media is working hard to awake in us needs which we don’t in fact need, “needs” which enslave us and make us selfish and egocentric people. Let's not promote the mass-media goals by our work, but focus on sharing the love of Christ.
If you wish to work with Roma kids as part of the church, or school, approach them without offering them sweets or other goods. Start by playing all kind of sport activities or fun activities with them. Seek first to earn their trust. Make them to feel valuable through your attention, through your love, through your respect. Don't try to buy their trust through your goods.
I know sometimes there’s the risk that the articles you are using for these activities will “disappear.” Be smart and use natural material or cheap material, or something which you made of it. If your activities will be longer than two hours, feel free to give the children a sandwich or a snack.
Only after you have made them friends and they trust you, consider reinforcing all their good habits with a small reward. For example, depending on the child’s behavior, they might earn a toy or some clothes, or any toiletries article. Reward their seriousness toward all the activities, goods, tasks, other people. Reward their frequent attendance (not very often, but do it), and reward any good habit.
Do not create unrealistic, unnecessary needs through your gifts and do not create the image of a cheap grace. To develop harmoniously each child needs love, security and interaction with all the natural elements (air, sun, water, ground, plants, animals . . .). They do not need expensive toys. Spending time in nature will require more time from you, but on this way the child will become a practical person who will know what to do with the least of goods that he has got.
It is true that the mass-media is working hard to awake in us needs which we don’t in fact need, “needs” which enslave us and make us selfish and egocentric people. Let's not promote the mass-media goals by our work, but focus on sharing the love of Christ.
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