Transforming Romanian schools through inclusion: 167 ambassadors in 125 schools

Two years ago, we focused on how the Romanian education system faces the strong phenomenon of marginalizing different children. The reasons were multiple, and the most affected children were those from Roma families/communities or those with special educational needs.

With this goal in mind, we launched the project “All Different, All Equal in Romanian Schools”, which aimed to prepare schools to manage difficult situations. Thus, the Network of Inclusion Ambassadors was born, present in 125 schools, both mainstream and special.

The project, implemented by the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation (RAA) from April 2021 to September 2023, with support from the Active Citizens Fund Romania, funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021, has contributed to creating a climate of trust and collaboration. It promoted diversity, and respect for human rights, and generally improved the quality of life for all students.

Retrospective: Over the two years, we were joined by 167 teachers who became ambassadors of inclusive education in 125 schools located in various cities.

During the two years of the project, we organized eight regional training sessions where we shared what inclusion and diversity mean to us. We also developed useful materials, together with 16 trainers from the Inclusion Network, to emphasize its importance and reach as many students, teachers, school leaders, and parents as possible.

These materials were designed in Romanian and include:

• Guide to Diversity and Differentiation in Teaching
• Report on Children’s Rights Violations in Mainstream Schools
• Report on Best Practices in Addressing Diversity in Schools in Romania and Europe
• Diversity Charter

Gabriela Bărbulescu in the “Guide to Diversity and Differentiation in Teaching” stated: “The way we play our professional role is an important part of how we feel and how others perceive us.”

Through a snowball effect, the 167 teachers passed on the new perspective on inclusion to another 1500 teachers in 125 schools. At the same time, 4000 students discussed with their teachers the significance of inclusion and diversity, exploring how to make everyone feel part of the school community, regardless of origins, appearance, spoken language, higher or lower abilities, and how to be seen for who we are.

Finally, the Diversity Charter, with its 10 affirmations, was adopted by the 125 schools. For us, its adoption represents a long-term commitment, and our joy lies in the fact that we can now start building together communities where every individual, whether a child or an adult, is seen, understood, and supported.

If you want to tell us about your school or have case studies you would like to see included in our materials, we would love to hear your story!

You can follow us on Facebook, and Instagram, or contact us at 0770 560 741 (Oana Pășălan, Project Coordinator).

The Active Citizens Fund Romania program is funded by the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The general objective of the Grants is to reduce economic and social disparities and strengthen bilateral relations between the 15 beneficiary states and the donor states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway).

The program is managed by a consortium composed of the Civil Society Development Foundation, the Partnership Foundation, the Resource Center for Roma Communities, the PACT Foundation, and Frivillighet Norge, acting as the Fund Operator designated by the FMO – the Financial Mechanism Office of the EEA and Norwegian Grants. The Active Citizens Fund Romania aims to strengthen civil society and active citizenship and increase the capacity of vulnerable groups.

With a total allocation of €46,000,000, the program seeks the long-term development of the sustainability and capacity of the civil society sector, enhancing its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship, and human rights, while strengthening bilateral relations with donor states Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. For more information about the Active Citizens Fund in Romania, please visit www.activecitizensfund.ro. For more information about the EEA and Norwegian Grants, visit www.eeagrants.ro.