Within the project, we empower vulnerable families to offer early education to their preschoolers and make them aware about educational opportunities for the older ones. Trained volunteers visit them weekly providing guidance to parents on how to create a safe, stimulating environment for their children's personal growth and social development. Every year, 10 vulnerable families are supported and at least 35 children are increasing their chances to break the poverty and social exclusion circle.
1 in 3 children is at risk of poverty in the South-West of Romania. In the rural area the high level of poverty goes hand in hand with low level of education of the parents who don't understand the importance of early education. Especially in large vulnerable families, children grow up with no access to early education before age of 3 and with limited access until age of 6 when they go to school. These children start school with relevant educational gaps that later lead to school drop-out.
The Home-Start concept brings a different approach to offering family support, a cost-effective one as a big part of the intervention is done by 10 volunteers, parents themselves. They offer practical, non-financial support to vulnerable families with at least 1 preschooler, visiting the family over a period of 6 months, once a week for 2h. Strengthening the family's capacity to respond adequately to child's developmental needs, we contribute essentially to children's future educational path.
The research conducted by our Home Start coordinator in partnership with the University of Craiova and Home-Start Worldwide shows the positive long-term impact of Home-Start on all children from families, parents, and volunteers over the past 10 years. 20 parents gain confidence and knowledge to support 35 children's learning. Over time, this early intervention helps reduce educational inequalities, improves school success, and contributes to breaking cycles of poverty in vulnerable communities.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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