The “Different Together” methodological manual on inclusive education for Roma women and girls was presented today at the press center of the Transcarpathian OVA.
It contains developments, recommendations and practical advice developed based on the results of a series of educational and educational trainings. They were held in various communities of the country as part of a project to expand the educational and humanitarian opportunities of Roma women, including IDPs.
The initiative is implemented by the Transcarpathian Regional Charitable Foundation “Blago” with technical support from UN Women in Ukraine, funding from the Women’s Peace Fund and humanitarian assistance from the United Nations.
“The main and important part of this project was the educational program for Roma women and girls,” said Eleonora Kulchar, director of the Regional Charitable Foundation “Blago” and national coordinator of the REYN-Ukraine network, during the opening.
According to her, more than 450 Roma women underwent training within the project and received new knowledge necessary for personal development, career growth and integration into society. These were residents of Uzhhorod, Turye-Remetivska community, Seredny, Berehiv, Odessa, Zolotonosha (Cherkasy region).
The manual “Different Together” was the result of the educational component of the project. Its key goal is to help trainers, representatives of public organizations, activists create effective inclusive educational programs that meet the needs of Roma women, said the coordinator of the educational direction of the project, Asya Tsisar.
“Together with partners from three Roma and six Ukrainian public organizations, we identified the main and most urgent educational needs for representatives of our Roma communities. In accordance with them, thematic trainings were developed and conducted on women’s rights in the family and society, sexual and gender-based violence, reproductive health, social entrepreneurship, etc. Our results and conclusions were collected in a unique publication,” Asya Tsisar noted.
The manual covers in detail the issue of the inclusive component in educational projects, its special importance in educational programs for Roma women. It also contains a roadmap with a step-by-step algorithm for creating such initiatives. In addition, the publication provides general information about the educational program for Roma women and girls, practical advice from its trainers and organizers.
The manual “Different Together” was published in Ukrainian and English. The online version is available for viewing and downloading at https://tinyurl.com/y2t5jpvx. The project team called on public organizations, trainers, and activists to use the manual in their work.
Deputy Head of the Department of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports of the Turye-Remetiv Village Council, Natalia Korol, said that thanks to the project, educational trainings for Roma women were held for the first time in their community. The participants showed great interest, as the topics are extremely relevant.
Trainings on preventing and combating domestic violence, entrepreneurship, family planning, etc. are very important, as they contribute to social integration and improving the quality of life of Roma women and girls in the Beregov community, said Agnes Kudron, director of the Opre Roma gymnasium.
For more information about the “Different Together” manual and the educational and humanitarian project, see the video at https://tinyurl.com/zbpn8s7y.