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Mediation with Roma in Brussels
Regional Integration Centre Foyer Brussels
Roma: situation in Brussels Capital Region• Strong increase in the number of (registered) Central and Eastern• European immigrants since 2007 (Romania & Bulgaria: EU membership)• Estimated number of Roma:• 6500 in 2004; 10,000 in 2015• Diversity: 3/4 Romanians and Bulgarians• Pushfactor: social and econ. marginalization• Ambitions: work, papers, stabilize• Issues in Brussels:
– Job Search– Multi-problematic families– precarious residence status– Schooling problems– Neighborhood problems (nuisances, begging, crime ...)– Homeless families (Slovak Roma)– ...
• Evolutions!
Roma & Travellers Service
3 Practices:
1.Support Point Roma & Travellers
2. Mediator team
3. Training centre
Roma & Travellers Service Foyer
1.Support Point Roma & TravellersInformation, support and reinforcement of schooling
• 2nd line:– Target groups: schools, services, public institutions in Brussels– Activities: information, advice, training, mediation, collaboration– Capitalization & dissemination !!!
• e.g. municipal action plan Anderlecht, MOE action plan Flanders, National Roma strategy, …
• 1st line:– Target groups: Roma & travellers– Activities: mediation, family support, information,
guidance, referral, reference adress
ROMED in Belgium Training of Roma mediators
Evolution of incoming demandsat the Roma and Travellers Service
Demand:- Huge: 2014: 2600 demands 2nd line, 700 demands1st line- Mainstream doesn’t fit (+ Mattheus effect)- Explicit inclusion
Schooling
• Social obstacles
• Cultural obstacles
• Pedagogical obstacles
How to improve schooling?
Goal 1:
Garantee that kidsLIKE TO KEEP COMING to school
• Ultimate objectif:
School = positif experience internal motivation
• Method:
1. Pupils: Act motivating2. Class: Create stimulating environment3. School: Increase intercultural skills of school staff4. Family: Strengthen relationship family – school
Roma & Travellers Service Foyer
2.Mediator team
Facilitating communication and collaboration between families and public institutions, social actors and schoolsStrengthen ties of confidence between families and schools in view of improvement of schooling
• Target groups:– Schools and educational guidance services in Brussels– Social and judicial bodies– Roma families
3 types of mediators
Party 1Public institution
Party 2Roma
Community
Interculturalmediator
Party 1Public
institution Party 2Roma
Community
Mediator as institution employee
The mediator as a “Trojan Horse”, an instrument controlled by the institution and aimed at changing the community
The mediator as a community activist, fighting for the institution to consider the requests of the community
Party 1Public institution
Party 2Roma
Community
Mediator as community
activist
The real intercultural mediator is working in a balanced way with both the public institution and the community and facilitates the communication and cooperation between them, helping overcome cultural and status differences. In this relationship, both parties are considered as having equally legitimate interests. Both are expected to take responsibility and engage in a mutually agreed change process. Parties should agree with this role for the mediator.
Mediator team – objectifs schooling Improvement of schooling degree
– Guiding– Remobilising– Mediating
Better implementation of parents– Sensibilising– Informing– Mobilising– Listening
Creating basic conditions– Family support, guidance– Mediation youth protection services
Increasing knowledge and understanding by social, public and school actors about Roma situation
– Advising– Information sessions
Supporting pupils in school- Presence
Mediator team – other objectifs
Creating and strengthening networks- Coordinated and consequent approach Roma minors- Formalisation of collaboration
Neighborhood mediation:- Collaboration with local actors about neighborhood problems and
opportunities- Roma infosessions- ...
Mediators:• Profile• Training• Coaching• Teamwork
Schools / services:• Clear agreements, expectations and mutual responsibilities• Formalization of cooperation systematization!• Network approach: on 1 line
Roma community:• Mutual feedback• Appreciation and needs• New actions
Mediator team - conditions
School mediation – results
1) Higher school attendance2) Improved implementation of parents3) Improved knowledge and comprehension by social, public and school actors about Roma situation4) More adequate and efficient action5) Improved follow-up of families
School mediation – difficulties
• Lack of ultimate mesures for persistent truants
• Non-subscribed children
• Subscription in nursery school
• Adolescent dropouts: pregnant students, young mothers, …
• Financial problems, general precarity
• Lack of places in schools subscription difficulties (discrimination?)
• Temporary projects with uncertain status
How to improve schooling?
Goal 1:
Garantee that kidsLIKE TO KEEP COMING to school
• Ultimate objectif:
School = positif experience internal motivation
• Method:
1. Pupils: Act motivating2. Class: Create stimulating environment3. School: Increase intercultural skills of school staff4. Family: Strengthen relationship family – school
Roma & Travellers Service Foyer
3.Training centre Molenbeek
Increase autonomie, self-esteem and social functioning through training and guidance towards labor market
• Target groups: adolescents with very problematic school carreer
• Activities:– Personnel development trajects– Learning contracts– Guidance towards labor market
Basic principles
1) Need to establish confidence
– Take care of your communication– Provide sufficient information– Show involvement– Adjust your own expectations
2) Need for responsibilization– Create awareness about reality– Be clear and consistent– Allow negotiation– Promote self-reliance
New generation Roma:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-kYNYbXRHM
Roma & Travellers Service Foyer
[email protected]/411.87.32
Mommaertsstraat 22, 1080 Molenbeek(Post: Werkhuizenstraat 25, 1080 Molenbeek)
More info, articles, reportages, dossiers, etc:www.foyer.be
‘Roma in beweging’, Foyer, june 2014 ‘Les Roms en action’, Foyer, nov 2014
