Career counseling
We provide career counseling to children and youth in locations with a high concentration of marginalized Roma communities. Read more
Development of digital skills
We provide informal learning activities with a focus on digital skills. Read more
Voluntary support of education
We support children and youth from marginalized Roma communities through the involvement of volunteers from the Roma and non-Roma communities. Read moreCareer counseling
We have updated the methodology of the career counseling program used so far and in six community centers (Doľany – Roškovce, Kojatice, Petrovany, Plavecký Štvrtok, Sveržov and Tobiáš Prešov) and in Petrovany Primary School we provide individual and group career counseling to both Roma and non-Roma children. At the same time, we are building the capacities of all involved social workers in community centers and educational institutions in the field of providing career counseling services, while valuable inspiration is the experience of Norwegian career counselors from the partner organization Fretex Pluss. CloseDevelopment of digital skills
We carry out group activities with a digital skills trainer in six community centers (Doľany – Roškovce, Kojatice, Petrovany, Plavecký Štvrtok, Sveržov and Tobiáš Prešov) and in the Petrovany Elementary School. It is a complementary educational activity to the standardized curriculum of primary schools with the aim of increasing the skills and knowledge of Roma children and youth in the digital sphere, as they often lack incentives to acquire such skills. What is specific is that we have created seven detailed programs – each tailored to the specific needs of the site. CloseVoluntary support of education
Experienced volunteers (mostly university students) help children with educational activities through tutoring, including support in preparing homework. Volunteers also act as mentors, who together with experts in each community center provide advice, increase the child’s motivation to progress in education and support him in overcoming many challenges in education. Part of the program is also the preparation of youth in the last years of primary schools for entrance exams. CloseDevelopment of skills and career counseling for social inclusion
Roma children coming from a socially marginalized environment in Slovakia enter the school system with numerous disadvantages, mainly because they come from a less stimulating environment. Initial disadvantage fostered by a standardized education system contributes to early school leaving and loss of interest in continuing in higher education, which puts them in a vicious circle of social exclusion and poverty.
In the context of the Slovak education system, the goals of career development services are often limited to isolated elements, such as choosing a suitable education or a suitable job, without involving students in proactively managing their lives and balancing their own needs with the needs of society.
In addition, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has fully exposed and even multiplied the obstacles that many Roma children face in accessing education or employment without discrimination. Many Roma children have been left out of education due to limited access to IT equipment, the internet, lack of digital skills or support at home, while the acceleration of digitalisation in society and the economy will lead to further discrimination against those without digital skills.
The main goal of the project is therefore to increase the social inclusion of marginalized Roma communities and build the capacity of local community service providers through proven and best practices and programs in the field of education and employment.
The project consists of:- modernization of existing and proven methodologies,
- implementation of continuous career counseling,
- training in digital skills,
- support through volunteer mentors.
The project entitled Development of skills and career counseling for social inclusion received a grant from Norway in the amount of 169,531 euros. The project was co-financed in the amount of 15% with a contribution from the state budget of the Slovak Republic. The aim of the project is to increase the social inclusion of marginalized Roma communities and build the capacities of local community service providers through proven and best practices and programs in the field of education and employment. Their aim is to reduce the impact of existing social disadvantage and discrimination and to increase the possibilities of further advancement in formal education and in the future career.
Norway Grants
Norway grants represent a contribution from Norway to a green competitive and inclusive Europe. Norway by means of the Norway Grants contributes to lowering economic and social differences and to strengthening mutual relations with the recipient states in Central and Eastern Europe, and the Baltics. Norway works closely together with the EU through the European Economic Area (EEA). Together with other donors, Norway gradually provided 3.3 billion euros between 1994 and 2014 throughout grant schemes. Norway Grants are financed exclusively by Norway and are available in the countries which joined the EU after 2003. For the period 2014 – 2021 the Norway Grants reach 1.25 billion euros. The priorities of this period are:
#1 Innovation, research, education and competitiveness #2 Social inclusion, youth employment and poverty eradication #3 Environment, energy, climate change and low carbon economy #4 Culture, civil society, good governance and fundamental rights #5 Justice and internal affairs All projects are 15% co-financed from the state budget of the Slovak Republic. If you would like to know more about the programmes and the projects financed by the Norway Grants in Slovakia, visit the website www.norwaygrants.sk.Project partners
Občianske združenie Tobiáš in Prešov was established in 2002 with the aim of helping families and individuals from socially disadvantaged backgrounds (hereinafter referred to as SZP) and marginalized Roma communities (hereinafter referred to as MRK). Since 2003, OZ Tobiáš has started working in the Roma community of Pod Hrádkom in Prešov – Solivare, and since 2005 it has been running the Tobiáš Private Kindergarten. OZ also established a low-threshold social service for children and the Tobiáš family in 2015, as well as the Tobiáš Community Center.
Základná škola v Petrovanoch (primary school in Prešov district) brings to the project the aspect of an educational institution that is part of the official system of primary education. The school is fully involved in career guidance and digital skills development programs and serves as a bridge between the official standardized education system and non-formal education activities that aim to complement the mainstream education system to enable all children to thrive within it. The school also uses Norwegian expertise and tests the program’s methodologies.
The mission of the Norwegian organization Fretex Pluss is to help people find and keep jobs and improve the environment through reuse and recycling. Fretex Pluss implements courses and consulting services aimed at individuals and companies in the field of working life.
