Imagine for a moment your house had just one room for your family of 7 and there was no space for a desk. Both your parents cannot read or write, so there is no one to help you if you had questions while doing your homework.
When you went to bed, you didn’t get to brush your teeth because there was no running water.
No one in your community really expects you to go to high school, and you have never seen anyone in your family get a job with a permanent contract.
You never had a birthday party and you’ve never left your village.
This is the reality for many of our Roma children, who live at risk of poverty. Because of their socio-economic context, 77% of them will have abandoned school before going to high school or a vocational school.
Improving the educational attainment of young Roma is critically important to break the cycle of poverty. Education is a bridge to better employment opportunities.
At the After School Program, over 130 children, ages 6 to 14, find a safe and encouraging environment, where they receive help with their homework and develop basic skills like reading, writing and doing basic math. Our teachers eagerly support and encourage the kids to stay in school and continue their education through high school.
The children also learn to politely interact with one another and have the opportunity to practice life skills that were previously unknown to them, like hygiene practices (properly washing hands and brushing teeth), choosing nutritious food, and developing IT competencies to help them succeed in a digital world.
The After School Program is also making a difference by helping children to know and experience the love of God. Through songs and interactive Bible lessons, the children learn that God loves them abundantly, that He has a plan for each of their lives, and that He desires a personal relationship with them.
“The After School Program is not just a place where children come and do their homework; it’s like a second home for them, a second family. They find a place where they can grow and learn in community and experience the joy of God. You can really tell the difference between our kids and the other kids in the village.” (Ioana Vintila,Teacher)
TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH LOVE AND EDUCATION
