Inventory of Availabe Resources to Help Teach Roma Children (and Adults) Literacy in Romani

UPDATED NOV. 4, 2014
 
(To be added to; please advise if you know of other resources not listed here)

Available primers/reading curriculae

In Germany, a few years ago in 2007-2009, a Roma (Sinti) couple was using a primer (i liil an maro rakepen, 2007, with a teacher's guide written in German) to teach regular classes in a few schools, for Sinti children. The primer was adapted by U. Peter from a primer that was written for Roma children and adults in Romania by Georghe Sarau and Camelia Stanescu (Manual de alfabetizare in limba rromani pentru copii, tineri si adulti).  The Romanian primer was prepared in a 'standardized' form of Romani, which is not spoken by any particular group, but it is being used (although to what extent and with what results is not currently clear) in schools in Romania to teach Roma children in the regular school system.

On the website www.romanibible.org there is information (under Educational Materials) about another primer: Sirpustik amare chibaqiri A basic primer of Romani by Marcel Kurtiàde, with illustrations by Ferdinand Koçi. It has a Teacher's manual available in Albania, English, French, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, and Spanish. There is an address in France where you can order this. I am not sure which dialect/language this is exactly and where it is spoken. (The website lists the following dialects/languages: Kalderash, Lovari, Ursari, Baltic, Servy, Sinti, Balkan, Pan Rromani.)

Christian Missions/NGO's

There are quite a number of Christian NGO's and missions from Western European countries who are involved in helping Roma children with education. Many have Kindergarten projects or projects for helping Roma children with homework or extra work so that they can better function in the regular schools. Examples: http://www.osce.org/kosovo/57517  or  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKmokWIdfx0

However, I have not yet come across any that teach Roma children by using the Romani language as language of education. Roma parents want their children to be taught in the national language so that they can have better chances at continued education and employment. One exception to this is a school in Pécs, Hungary, the Ghandi School, which you can read about on romanibible.org, under 'schools'.

UNA Club

The Roma Bible Union works with Bayash Roma in Croatia, Serbia and Hungary. The UNA Club is a Roma Children's Bible and Literacy movement designed to take the Gospel of Jesus into Roma villages. http://www.unaclub.com/  

Council of Europe:  'The key to a better future lies in the education of Roma children'.

The Council of Europe has a comprehensive approach to Roma and Traveller issues. It stresses the importance of maintaining linguistic and cultural diversity, and encourages language learning as a means of preserving linguistic and cultural identity, improving communication and mutual understanding, and combating intolerance and xenophobia. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) was developed by the Language Policy Division of the Council of Europe to provide a common basis for all languages in regard to curriculum guidelines, examinations, textbooks etc. across Europe.

As part of this, the Curriculum Framework for Romani was developed. It takes account of the needs of three age groups: 3–6 years, 7–10 years, 11–14 years; and it is designed to accommodate three different sociolinguistic situations: the teaching of Romani to (i) children who do not speak Romani at home, (ii) children who are not fluent in Romani, though they may hear their parents and grandparents speak the language, and (iii) children who are fluent in Romani but who need to develop their skill in using the language as an instrument of formal learning (Romani as language of education). The Framework also takes account of a significant difference between the learning of Romani by Roma children and the learning of foreign languages in general education. In the latter case a new language draws the learner into a new culture, whereas the teaching of Romani aims to give learners linguistic access to a culture that is already familiar to them and in this way to deepen their sense of their Roma identity.

For more information, see http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/Romani_doc_EN.asp The document Curriculum Framework for Romani 2008 can be downloaded on this page in English as well as Kalderash or Usari.

See also: http://www.romaninet.com/?sec=home

European Language Portfolio (ELP)

The European Union has come up with a way to acknowledge and support the teaching of minority languages, including Romani, and encourage plurilingualism, by developing the European Language Portfolio. This is an 'instrument which promotes and supports the learning of languages and the exchange of intercultural experiences at all levels.'   See: http://elp.ecml.at/UsingtheELP/Understandingtheportfolio/tabid/2745/language/en-GB/Default.aspx

The Romani ELP is a tool to to help bilingual speakers of Romani to keep a record and portfolio of their knowledge of the Romani language. A pdf  of the Romani ELP is found here: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/Source/Rom_LowerSecELP08_EN.pdf

Davar, a curriculum being developed for Roma children or adults wanting to learn

A series of activities and games that teach necessary skills to children or adults who are learning to read, write, and do math in the regular school system of the country they reside in (provided, of course, they can function well in the language of instruction). The goal is to attract students to the learning process through these activities and games and help them discover that academic learning is easier and more fun than they (might have) previously thought or experienced.

Some things should be taught first because some practice is needed to develop the sequential part of the brain necessary to be able to easily learn school subjects. (For more explanation about this see
http://www.kidport.com/reflib/science/HumanBody/NervousSystem/BrainHemispheres.htm#BrainHemispheres.) The program is simple and fun to do. It can be done with very few materials. Since students succeed in it, it is also affirming for them.  Davar may be part of a Sunday school, Bible club, or other regular meeting. Students should meet at least once a week. A Davar activity takes about 5 minutes. The entire cycle can be done in about 6 months.

The activities are being developed in Dutch/English and will need to be adapted/translated to the language spoken where they will be used.

Contact person: Mary van Rheenen (holmesvr at online dot nl).

SIL Personnel

A literacy team has just allocated in Romania and is learning Romanian right now.

Marianne Fast
SIL Literacy Consultant
marianne_fast at sil.org

Multilingual Education

Multilingual education has been proven to improve reading and writing skills, enhance the learning experience for the children (and thus also the teaching experience for the teachers!) and improve children's overall learning abilities as well as their confidence (and chances for further education...).

In order for people to be able to use this in in a Roma context, people would have to agree to teaching Roma children to read and write in their own language first, before switching those skills to any national language after a year or two.

The reason why this is not happening is that

1.  It is largely unknown and when people first hear about it they think it is impossible and undesirable, so it needs a lot of promotion and explanation. 
2. It is a lot of work at first to get teaching materials in Roma languages, train teachers, but first of all, convince people of the benefits of this and set up teaching situations where this can happen.

People are needed with a vision and with enough time and money to get this started, an investment of at least 2 years. Then supervision needs to happen too, and follow up, with ongoing involvement and training needed for many more years. Who is going to do all this? It needs a team.

For information on multilingual education or to express an interest in joining the team, contact Mary van Rheenen via this blog

New Transnational Network Launches to Help Roma Children Access Education

Romani CRISS, in partnership with the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University, Greek Helsinki Monitor, the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), Life Together and Integro Association Bulgaria, is launching the DARE-Net project: Desegregation and Action for Roma in Education-Network.
The DARE-Net project will create a transnational network of Roma and non-Roma civil society and academic organisations to analyse practices and initiatives relating to Roma education and school desegregation of Roma children in Romania, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.
On February 25-28, 2013, the first transnational meeting of the partners will take place in Bucharest. This meeting will mark the start of the network and provide partners with an initial opportunity to discuss their efforts to address Roma education and school desegregation in their respective countries. Key examples include affirmative action initiatives or legislation to prohibit school segregation in Romania, and litigation to combat Roma school segregation and promote the integration of Roma children through incusive education resulting in favorable decisions by the European Court of Human Rights: e.g., Horváth and Kiss v. Hungary, D.H. and other v. Czech Republic, Sampanis v. Greece, and Orsus v. Croatia.
During the project, the DARE-Net partners will advance desegregation and litigation projects in their countries and advocate for concrete actions by institutions to integrate Roma students, through desegregation and qualitative education, in the six European countries.
More information on the project is available here.
For further information, contact:
Sinan Gökçen
Media and Communications Officer
European Roma Rights Centre
sinan.gokcen@errc.org
+36.30.500.1324
The DARE-Net project is financially supported by Lifelong Learning: Comenius, ICT, Languages and Programme Coordination.

OAZA PRESCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN

In association with evangelical church we started a preschool or kindergarten program in 2003 for Roma children 3-6 yrs of age. We have had several groups move on to regular school now, and we have seen that the kindergarten helped a lot of the Romany children in their further growth in the school and in the society. They receive good preparation so that they are not immediately discriminated against as “Roma who don’t know anything,” when they start at the local primary school.

About 20 children are attending every workday from 8:30am – 3.00pm. Two kindergarten teachers are working with them, and we also have a cook. We make an effort to provide them with nutrition meals, enough vitamins and child-friendly foods. Children are served breakfast, a warm midday meal, and snacks. In the realm of the entire program, careful consideration is given to following areas of children’s needs: health, social, educational, emotional and spiritual. They hear a Bible story every day, and we pray with them. We are grateful to be able to serve the Romany children.
The preschool/kindergarten is held in the Oaza Center in Jagodina, Serbia. The Oaza Center works in other ways with local Romany. Children attend the preschool/kindergarten for free. The program is funded by sponsors (30 Euro/month per child).

To learn more about this program, contact:
Roma Centre OAZA
Miki Kamberovic
Koste Abrasevic 18
35000 Jagodina - Serbia
Tel.00381 (035) 229 791
e-mail: rcoaza@gmail.com

Donaties:
St. International Teams
te Ermelo
Giro 65646 m.v.v.
Roma Centrum OAZA

Preschool Cords in the Net

Rather than start a school, some focus on improving Romany education by helping Romany children prepare for school. The next few posts will introduce several involved in preschools. What is their purpose? What curriculum do they use? What impact have they had on the Romany children who attend them? Do these children do measurably better in available education once they begin school?

Those involved in preschools are welcomed to respond!

MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION

Experts around the world have concluded that it is easiest and most effective for people of any age (children-adults) to learn to read in their mother tongue. Respected organizations such as UNESCO and SIL promote literacy programs in minority languages (like Romani). Such programs have been successfully initiated even where the minority language was not previously written. The educational system begins in the minority language. Once students have mastered the basic skills involved in reading (and writing), instruction in the national language is gradually phased in. At the end of such programs, students are equipped to successfully transition into opportunities for higher education in national language schools. We would be very interested in hearing from any of you who have used such an approach. For those who would like more information, http://www.sil.org/literacy/multi.htm provides and introduction and list of resources.

FUNDAŢIA ProRroma România / STICHTING ProRomi Nederland

Fundaţia ProRroma din România colaborează strâns cu Stichting (fundaţia) ProRomi, cu sediul în Olanda, în scopul implementării educaţiei creştine pentru copiii romi. ProRroma are în supravegherea sa şcoli, grădiniţe, clase de meditaţii şi proiecte de ajutor umanitar. ProRomi se ocupă cu strângerea de fonduri, rugăciune, publicitate şi suport logistic. Până la ora actuală s-au înfiinţat patru şcoli: în satul de romi Hetea (jud. Covasna); în cartierul de romi din Tinca (jud. Bihor) şi în lagărul de romi Pata Rât din Cluj Napoca (jud. Cluj). După programul de şcoală se oferă gratuit meditaţii. De asemenea s-a înfiinţat un post medical şi s-a dat startul unui curs de alfabetizare. Prima instituţie de învăţământ din Tinca, la ora actuală grădiniţă plus primele clase de şcoală primară, a primit autorizaţie de funcţionare în învăţământ de la Stat, iar scopul principal este de a oferi învăţământ pentru toate cele opt clase ale învăţământului primar. Experienţa demonstrează faptul că elevii din toate aceste şcoli necesită mai mult timp şi atenţie pe parcursul procesului educaţional. Profesorii fundaţiei ProRroma sunt specializaţi în acest lucru. Informaţiile de pe site-ul fundaţiei ProRroma sunt publicate în trei limbi: română, engleză şi olandeză. Informaţiile de pe site-ul fundaţiei Stichting ProRomi sunt în limba olandeză, dar se poate face contact şi în limba engleză ori germană. Ambele website-uri conţin fotografii şi scurte filme documentar. Fundaţia ProRroma Strada Oaşului 347 400645 Cluj-Napoca Cluj, România info@prorroma.org www.prorroma.org Gavril Caba (preşedinte) +40(0)259-310370 Bert Looij (vice-preşedinte) +40(0)740-517425 Sjaak Monster (director) +40(0)724-770704 Stichting ProRomi Nederland (Olanda) Callistolaan 15 3318 JA Dordrecht Nederland / Olanda +31-(0)78-6559237 info@proromi.nl www.proromi.nl Sjaak Monster (director) +31(0)6-27566113