News

Ongoing in April and May Scientific - practical conferences "Intercultural education as a means to reduce dropout of Roma children of school" are part of the " Every student could be a winner" Project , implemented by the Centre "Amalipe" with the financial support of Trust for social achievement. Their purpose is :

- To demonstrate best practices in "Reducing Roma children drop out of school" Program;

- To expand the space for the promotion of good practices and innovation, implemented in Bulgarian schools;

- To enrich the educational community with modern methods of working with students, parents and institutions to reach and reduce dropout of Roma children of school;

- To provide schools with scientific support for development in the next school year .

 Burgas

 In April 2014, in the Conference Hall of the Regional Inspectorate of Education – Burgas, Center "Amalipe " together with RIE Bourgas held a scientific-practical conference " Intercultural Education to reduce Roma children drop out of school". The conference was attended by school principals and teachers from Pomorie, Sungurlare, schools - partners in Burgas District and journalists from local media. The conference was attended by George Dautev - Acting " Head " of the Regional Inspectorate, Galya Nikolova - senior expert in primary education , integrated education and special schools - RIE Burgas , who opened the conference and welcomed the guests. Peter Malinov, Regional Coordinator , presented the educational field in the activities of CIEDT "Amalipe", the concept and objectives of the conference. From attending schools were presented the following reports and presentations:
 
"The school as a mediator for inclusion of children from different ethnic groups " Stanka Koeva - principal of "Father Paisij" PS- Ravna Gora .

"The role of parent community in school life " - Mara Georgieva - principal - "Vasil Levski "PS - Balgarovo;

Innovative methods of working in a multicultural environment.” Malina Georgieva - Teacher - Secondary School" Hristo Botev" - Kameno .

"Hristo Botev "PS, Marinka - Diana Vulcheva gave a presentation on the School Easter charity concert held on 17.04.2014 along with the schools - partners from Burgas and Sozopol municipalities.

Active participation in the discussion took Jordan Stanev - moderator in CDC Kameno and Velcho Mihalev - coordinator on “Youth is tolerance" Project.

 
Yambol

In the second half of April , in the hall of the Resource Centre Yambol, CIEDT "Amalipe " together with RIE Yambol held scientific-practical conference " Intercultural education to reduce drop-out of Roma students of school," within the new project “Every student can be a winner" supported by the Trust for social achievement.

The conference was opened by the Head of RIE in the town of Yambol, Mrs. Penka Ilieva, and was moderated by Vania Dimitrova, Senior expert on integrated education and special schools at RIE Yambol. Peter Malinov - Regional Education Coordinator at the Center "Amalipe" presented the basic areas of educational direction. Mrs. Ilieva actively participated in the discussions and presented her position and recommendations to teachers and principals - to seek more active interaction with parents, community leaders, in order to limit dropouts . The Head of RIE Yambol presented an idea - appeal best efforts to prevent dropouts to be carried to secondary education as well. Participants at the event held a discussion on the need of compulsory communication in Bulgarian language at school .

Schools took part in the conference, as presented the following reports:

" Schools and parents - partners on the road to success " - Mariya Atanasova " Jordan Jovkov "PS - Yambol ;

"Succeeding together," Nela Dimova - Vocational School of Light Industry , ecology and chemical technologies - Yambol ;

"Design and extracurricular activities in multicultural environment " Nikolina Georgieva "Jordan Jovkov " PS- Yambol

Haskovo

On April 28, 2014 in "St. Kliment Ohridski " Secondary school in Simeonovgrad , was held a round table on" Intercultural education as a means to reduce Roma children drop out of school ."
 
The forum was attended by teachers from schools in Haskovo District. Guests were Mrs. Teodorina Ivanova - Secretary of Municipality of Simeonovgrad, Mrs. Daniela Despova, senior expert at department "Education and Culture" in the municipality , and Plamena Ivanova, president of the parent club to the host school. Special guest and dear friend of the school and the Roma community in the region was Dr. Radosveta Dimitrova, researcher from the Department of Psychology at Stockholm University who presented her latest study " Identity and Well-being of children and adolescents from different countries and cultures" . Her presentation , and the four reports presented by "Ivan Vazov " PS in Simeonovgrad , "Hristo Botev " PS , village of Dolno Golemanci, Primary School "P. Iavorov ", Kardzhali and " St. Kliment Ohridski " Secondary school in Simeonovgrad, sparked a lively discussion on the success and difficulties associated with learning in a multicultural environment .

Stara Zagora

On April 29, 2014 at the House of Culture in Galabovo was held Regional Scientific and Practical Conference "Intercultural education as a means of reducing dropout of Roma children of school"

Interest in the subject showed more than 80 teachers from schools in Stara Zagora district.
 
Emilia Gocheva, senior expert in " Education " in the municipality of Galabovo, presented a greeting by the mayor Nikolay Tonev. Reports were presented from seven schools involved in the project "Every student could be a winner", implemented by Center "Amalipe " and from " Vasil Levski " Secondary school in Galabovo who also wanted to share their experience in intercultural education. The report's authors shared their experience in communicating with parents and their integration into school life . The reports sparked a lively discussion .

With great interest was met the report of teachers from school " Pop Mincho " in Kolarovo village in direction "Models for empowerment of students " - " Forum theater as a way to empower students " - a truly innovative practice in which the audience becomes a co-author of the play , created and recreated by students on a concrete problem.

Pazardjik
 
The teachers conference for Pazardzhik district was held at the RIE - Pazardzhik, on 9 April 2014. RIE Pazardzhik were not only host of the event, but a partner in organizing it. The conference invited many principals in the district, as well as schools - partners working under the " Reducing Roma children drop out of school - Each student could be a winner" Program. The meeting was attended by Ms. Valentina Kaytazova - Head of RIE accompanied by experts from the RIE - Pazardzhik. Principals of School "L.Karavelov" - Peshtera and school " St. Kliment Ohridski " – village of Aleko Konstantinovo made presentation of good practices with parents, students and teachers, of best practices for work of the student's parliament, the parent club and the benefits of educational program implemented by CIEDT "Amalipe"

Dobrich

Over 70 representatives of schools , municipalities and NGOs took part in the initiative of the Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance " Amalipe" in partnership with the Regional Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Integration Issues and RIE Dobrich. The conference was held on May 15, 2014 at 2 pm in "Europe" hall of Regional Administration. Deputy Governor Daniel Petkov launched the conference, welcomed the participants and wished successful work . Rife Mehmedova - senior expert " qualification of the teaching staff " in Rio - Dobrich welcomed the participants on behalf of the Head of RIE. Theodora Krumova - Program Director of the Centre ,Amalipe " presented the activities of the Centre Amalipe in education, in particular the results of the program "Reducing Roma children drop out of school" and the objectives and project activities of Every student could be a winner", which is being implemented with the support of the Trust for social achievement.
 
The schools participating in the program from Dobrich demonstrated good practice and innovation applicable in Bulgarian schools, modern methods of working with students, parents and institutions to reduce scope and Roma children drop out of school. Of particular interest was the presentation of working models to work with parents. Establishing Parent clubs at school is a mandatory component of the Project “Every student could be a winner".

Principals from the districts of Vratsa, Pleven and Shumen attended the conference to show in practice the power of the network of schools, to support their colleagues and share experiences.

The regional coordinator Nelly Nikolova expressed her satisfaction with the fruitful conference and that all participants were convinced that ,, the best results are achieved only in the team work".

The regional conferences "Intercultural education as a means to reduce dropout of Roma children of school" are part of the upcoming national scientific-practical conference "Intercultural education as a means to reduce Roma children drop out of school", which will be held at the end of June in Veliko Tarnovo, organized by Center "Amalipe" in cooperation with the " St. Cyril and Methodius" University.

 
The Trust for Social Achievement (TSA) is a nonprofit organization, whose mission is to break the poverty cycle by promoting opportunities that help Bulgaria’s most disadvantaged citizens achieve educational and economic success. TSA supports programs that, with integrity, scalability, and transparency, boost the long-term achievement of Bulgaria’s poorest, with a focus on the Roma.