Concern for girls' education

The EHO team engaged in the project "Social inclusion for a dignified life of Roma and other vulnerable persons in Serbia 2023-2026" met in Romania with Romanian colleagues from HEKS/EPER teams, Orthodox Philanthropy Association Sibiu, Open Fields Foundation.

Beside the EHO team, the meeting was attended by the director of the Office for Roma Inclusion Ljiljana Mihajlović and pedagogical assistants from elementary schools "Olga Milošević" from Smederevska Palanka, "19 Oktobar" from Kragujevac and "Vuk Karadžić" from Niš.

During the three-day gathering, we learned more about the work within the "Girls' Club" and the career guidance, successfully implemented by the Romanian teams. Organized were visits to three schools, where we attended workshops and saw how our colleagues work. Good practice examples and challenges and recommendations based on the experience of colleagues will be important for the development of future EHO work strategies. At the same time, the EHO team and teaching assistants were given the opportunity to transfer knowledge and skills from their many years of practice.

Within the framework of the project "Social inclusion for a dignified life of Roma and other vulnerable persons in Serbia 2023-2026" financed by HEKS EPER, Switzerland, EHO signed cooperation agreements with seven elementary schools from: Niš, Kragujevac, Velika Plana, Kovin, Beočin, Voždovac and Zvezdara. In those schools, with the joint cooperation of EHO and the work of pedagogical assistants, the "Girls' Club" was formed. The basic idea is to pay a special attention and provide help and support to girls in their education within the framework of the clubs. This study visit to colleagues in Romania should help our work with girls become as fruitful as possible.

In the coming period, if possible, EHO shall host colleagues from Romania in Novi Sad.

Željka Zeljković (EHO)