Completed

Sustainable social and education integration through sport activities

National University for Physical Education and Sports ·Romania

€4.4m

Grant awarded

Local Development and Poverty Reduction, Enhanced Roma Inclusion

Programme

31 May 2019

Signed

About this project

According to Eurostat reports, at the end of 2015, Romania has one of the highest percentages of early school leaving among EU countries. Early school leaving is linked to unemployment, social exclusion, poverty and poor health.  The project aims to increase school attendance and the percentage of children from gymnasium level that progress to high school in 32 supported schools from 24 counties of Romania, by involving children at risk in integrated sporting and outdoor activities.  The main target group consists of 2,600 children at risk of early school leaving and of social exclusion generated by their economic situation or by disability (of which 520 Roma and 260 with special needs), distributed nationwide in the 8 regions of Romania and selected from the lower secondary educational cycle. The project targets also 760 specialists working directly with the main target group and 800 parents (315 Roma). The project will cover the duration of a full school cycle of 4 years. The main activities include: <ul> <li>3 studies on social exclusion mechanisms in target areas;</li> <li>4 specific methodologies for social and educational inclusion based on sport;</li> <li>inclusive activities based on sport, counselling and guidance sessions for children at risk;</li> <li>non-formal education for specialists;</li> <li>counselling and support tools for parents;</li> <li>4 experience exchanges with the Norway partner.</li> </ul> The project will help increase with 1% the transition rate to high school level education in the supported schools. Also, 2600 children at risk will receive support services, out of which 1000 children will increase their school attendance with 10%; 760 teachers will be trained and 800 parents will receive counselling on supporting the educational integration of children. The project is implemented in partnership with Norwegian School for Sport Sciences, a Norwegian University with extensive expertise in educational integration, who will facilitate access to good practices and specific methodologies.

Bilateral cooperation results

The project benefitted from a solid bilateral component, given the partnership with the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NSS). The Norwegian partner contributed to the project results at several levels. On the one hand, NSS has contributed to the development of the project key intellectual outputs - a strategy, an action plan and two methodologies for educational integration through sport of children at risk of school living and children with special education needs. These outputs have been translated into English and will be applied by the partner in its own activities. On the other hand, the Norwegian partner has contributed to the development of the knowledge and skills of 58 teachers and education experts from Romania, by hosting 7 study visits in Norway. Also, 10 experts of the Norwegian partner participated in various activities in Romania, such as summer and winter camps with children at risk of early school living, contributing to the methodology for non-formal education activities taking place in the camps. The PP and the Norwegian partner have also participated in various public events (sport science congress, project opening, mid-term and final evaluation conferences). Following the good collaboration in the project, the partners have agreed to continue the collaboration in the future.

Project partners

The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences Donor project partner· Norway

Romania country profile Other projects in this programme Project website