News

From 1 to 3 October 2010, Center Amalipe held training seminars for teachers, who teach "Ethnic Folklore - Roma folklore" elective subject. The event was organized under the project "Decreasing the dropout rate of Roma children”, supported by “America for Bulgaria” Foundation. Participants in the seminar were teachers enrolled in this program in their schools, known as "Pilot" (schools experiencing problems with keeping Roma children in classrooms).

The seminar was attended by representatives of schools that want to join the program next year. The condition, that all of them had to meet was that they have not passed this training before and they implement after school class "Roma folklore" for first year.

Traditionally, three-day training began with a short presentation of participants through interesting interactive methods, which brought a smile and good mood for work to both teacher’s groups. The main topics of the workshop were concerning the principles, practical and methodological specifics and peculiarities of teaching Roma folklore, history, culture and folklore of the Roma, a link between Roma culture and countrywide Bulgarian culture, interactive methods of teaching and learning in a multicultural environment as well as funding opportunities to support the work of the after school classes "Ethnic Folklore - Roma folklore".

This, however, was only part of the activities which Center “Amalipe” held during those three days. Lecturers of the training were Theodora Krumova and Deyan Kolev (Center Amalipe). In each seminar it was important for us to know the environment and people with whom we work, because this the only way we can reach a fruitful dialogue. Therefore, we got a lot of interesting and fun games, and by this we managed to work in a friendly atmosphere. Due to the atmosphere, each participant felt free to express positions, concerns and ideas for successful work in a multicultural environment. We managed to extract very useful experience of teachers who, although have never been trained, intuitively and creatively have taken the way of tolerance and attention to each child.

We discussed the most common problems occurring in the school when the class has students with different ethnic background. Highlighted were a few main points: Lack of interest by parents and children that is coming from the fact that they don't fell the school as their own. Another problem was ethnic self-determination of children, which often comes from ignorance about their personal history and from different socio-political factors. All participants shared the opinion that we must achieve harmony between traditional and interactive teaching form, which on one hand reinforces learning, and on the other activates the creative potential in children. Regardless of the problems that appear while working in multicultural environment, all teachers came to the idea that the problem is never one-sided and therefore we must be actively working with both children and parents, and the whole teaching team.

We clarified how to work fruitfully with guidelines that Amalipe gave to all teachers and children from the schools. In session for educational integration the expert Gloria Kostova provided a variety of techniques and approaches applicable in the colorful classrooms.

"Except that I learned very interesting facts about Roma culture and folklore, I learned something new about myself. I'm going back to school with enthusiasm and many ideas to work "- said one of the teacher.

We know that stereotypes are easily built, but we also know that there are people who stand up against them to move forward with a focus on the human! The aim of education is achieved when at parting someone say "I want and I know there is a meaning to do it." There is no doubt that positive results is always difficult to achieve, with perseverance and a lot of effort. However, when we know the right way, light is always before us and before you, dear teachers!

Good luck!