Romania for every child. The safety net in the community.
Making social inclusion real - breaking the cycle of exclusion for the most vulnerable children in Romania
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The Challenge
Romania is home to 3.7 million children. But not every child feels at home. Without access to health care and education or limited access to basic resources like food, running water, heating, and a stable and safe environment, living in poverty, exclusion, discrimination, physical and emotional abuse, 41.5 per cent of children are born in families at risk of poverty and social exclusion. With their suffering, the future of the entire society becomes a little bit more grey.
Not having the safety of a daily meal, warm water, or a good pair of shoes to go to school with, being in a state of fear, shame, and hunger all the time. Not knowing what trust, courage, and comfort mean not knowing whom to ask for help and whom to relay when you’re suffering when you need encouragement, or sometimes when you need only a chance to know what you are capable of and demonstrate that.
The families of these children cannot always provide them access to a minimum confort and resources for education, health, harmonious development. They do not know whom to ask for help, they do not know their rights and they do not feel like they are members with equal rights in the community.
Thus, without tailored support to the needs, offered early on, to prevent, not only repair and heal, entire generations of children cannot achieve their potential. From micro-groups of membership - first degree relatives and extended family – to macro-groups – their community and the local, county, and national network – the solutions must be in the best interest of children so that Romania will be the same for all of us.
They do not know whom to ask for help, they do not know their rights and they do not feel like they are members with equal rights in the community.
The Solution
No child should be left behind. Local authorities and other important community actors can create together a safety net at a local level for the social inclusion of all children and teenagers, especially those from vulnerable groups like Roma minorities, disabled children, or children from rural areas.
This is the solution proposed by UNICEF in Romania through the program „Romania for every child. Making social inclusion real - breaking the cycle of exclusion for the most vulnerable children in Romania”, which began in June 2021.
The program is implemented in five localities from Bacau and Brasov county and benefits from a grant of 4.2 million euros provided by Norway through Norway Grants 2014-2021 within the Local Development Programme managed by The Romanian Social Development Fund.
By improving access to quality, fair and coordinated services (community services and integrated services) in education, health care, and social protection, as well as by promoting social standards that support children's rights, „Romania for every child” will break the vicious circle of poverty and exclusion, which is being repeated from generation to generation and will create instead a virtuous circle of development, opportunity, and inclusion.
In other words, each child will be protected, will play, learn to dream and make steps to accomplish their dreams, will grow healthily,gain access to health care and to quality inclusive education, will be able to express theirviews on decisions concerning their future.
“Romania for every child” programme has three pillars: „ Child Friendly Communities Initiative”, „Integrated community centers” and „Quality inclusive education”.
The UNICEF initiative „ Child Friendly Communities”, globally recognized for increasing awareness, especially of the municipalities, so that they ensure that the rights of all children are met, will be implemented for the first time in Romania. This will be achieved through a broad consultation and integration process of children’s opinions, needs, and priorities within local public policies, to be able to influence their lives and their future.
The integrated Community service centers (CCI) are essential for the implementation of the program „Romania for every child”. By setting up integrated Community centers, children will benefit from dedicated integrated community services like social assistance, medical assistance, and early education.
The third part, Quality Inclusive Education, is dedicated to improving the quality of education, as well as the mobilization of kindergartens, schools, high schools, families, and communities to support school participation and support for every child.
To be all right, we need to be well individually. This is not a privilege for children, but it is the right of each of us to have equal chances, no matter the environment we come to the world.
The program Romania for every child has three parts: „Child Friendly Communities”, „Integrated community centers” and „Quality inclusive education”.
“Romania for every child” was developed based on the project “Social inclusion by providing integrated services at community level”’s results, funded within the Program RO25 “Poverty alleviation” through Norway Grants 2009-2014.
The material was produced with the financial support of the Norway Grants 2014 - 2021. Its contents (text, graphics, photos, video) do not reflect the official opinion of the Program Operator, the National Contact Point or the Office of the Financial Mechanism. The information and opinions expressed are the sole responsibility of the author(s).
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For official information about SEE or Norway Grants please visit www.eeagrants.ro.