Korça, 13 March 2014– The Children Human Rights Centre of Albania – CRCA in collaboration with the Municipality of Korça organized the Workshop “Every Roma Child in the Kindergarten”. This workshop was intended to bring together key stakeholders of the Qark of Korça, to discuss solutions and recommendations that affect the improvement of the living conditions and the integration of Roma children in preschool education.
The UNICEF and CRCA Albania initiative “Every Roma child in the kindergarten” supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Austrian Cooperation for Development, aims to establish and support local networks in early childhood issues and the integration of Roma children in preschool. At this meeting, representatives of public institutions and civil society expressed their commitment to continue working in support of the Roma community and especially for the integration of 3-6 year old children in the kindergarten, and find a solution to the series of problems that need to be addressed in the future.
Mr. Altin Hazizaj, Executive Director of CRCA Albania and moderator of the meeting, in his speech said “We shall give an example that every issue has a solution. With the support of the public institutions and civil society organizations of the Qark of Korça, we can take concrete steps to integrate the most vulnerable groups in the educational system”.
Benila Terova, deputy Head of the Municipality of Korça stressed the importance of the initiative “Every Roma Child in Kindergarten” and the will of local government to resolve the problems of the Roma community. “The Municipality of Korça during the works of Mr. Peleshi, and especially now focuses in improving the lives the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. The Municipality of Korça has undertaken a number of initiatives to promote a fruitful cooperation between stakeholders for the Roma community”.
During this roundtable Mr. Ardit Konomi, Prefect of Korça said: “There is a real need of an intensified and integrated approach in order to address the problems of the Roma community”.
Further discussions were focused on some important issues such as the registration of Roma children at the civil registry, the vaccination of Roma children, the attendance rates at the preschool educational system and the services offered to this community.
The meeting was attended by the representatives of the main institutions of Korça including the Municipality, Prefecture, Municipality of Pogradec, Commune of Libonik, Child Protection Unit in Korça Municapility,Regional Education Office of Korça, Economic Aid Office, Regional Education Directorate, Directors of Kindergarten Nr. 9 and Nr. 10, Public Health Directorate and Social Services, representative of local organizations, media etc.
The Workshop continued with open discussions between the participants focusing on raising the issues that this community face and was concluded with a series of recommendations for addressing the problems Roma children face in the city.
For more information, please contact:
Mersila Ballo
HRH, CRCA Albania
Cel: 0694060392
E-mail: mersila.ballo@crca.al