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Romania

Community Action Definition

Community Action links together Mainstream Schools and Special

Schools and Residential Institutions as well as towns, villages and

local communities in a clear, coherent and coordinated weekly

programme of educational development and social integration.

Community Action creates a new and real Partnership of Learning

Community Action encourages volunteers from Mainstream Schools and

children from Special Schools and Residential Institutions and those in

towns, villages and local communities to meet 2 or 3 times a week to

participate in educational activities which help to build a Bridge of

Communication between Schools and Institutions, volunteers and

children, and across communities

Community Action is organised by the ACHLG in partnership with

Ministries of Education and other Ministries

Community Action Aims

To introduce volunteers from Mainstream Schools and children from Special Schools and Residential Institutions to a Community Action Programme supporting physical and educational development

To encourage volunteers to commit themselves to working with children with Special Needs (especially) and to sustain and promote the process of social integration and educational development for all

To improve the life chances and experiences of all young people in schools, particularly those with Special Needs

To help to overcome barriers to learning and achievement for all young people

To achieve greater integration and inclusion through a programme of activities designed to promote active learning and social cohesion

Community Action Objectives

Linking together student volunteers from Mainstream Schools and young people in partner Special Schools and Residential Institutions during and beyond school hours in a locally targeted programme of educational activities

Enabling young people with Special Needs to become stimulated mentally, challenged physically, integrated socially, and to develop more fully their abilities through creative, imaginative and therapeutic activities (e.g. Art, Drama, Dance, Sport, I.T., Music, Craft)

Encouraging volunteers to acquire or enhance their qualities of initiative, commitment and resourcefulness through their participation in a Community Action Programme

Providing stimulating opportunities for learning and development for all children especially those with special needs through personal engagement in Community Action in the local community

Benefits - CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL / SOCIAL NEEDS

Children participating in Community Action Programmes will:

become further involved and more fully integrated into their local communities and enjoy developing new and personal friendships with volunteers

gain greater self-esteem, and more fully appreciate their own value and worth - which, in turn, would be appreciated by others

stimulate their creative, imaginative and expressive abilities though the organisation of a variety of different activities

develop new physical skills through a diverse programme of sporting and other physical activities

become more balanced individuals - gaining personal and emotional security and confidence

develop their individual skills / talents & pursue their own special interest;

feel a part of their community and not apart from it.

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Benefits - MAINSTREAM SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS

Students participating in Community Action will:

advance their knowledge and skills in important aspects of education, in an enjoyable and exciting way

enhance their understanding and awareness of the individual needs and challenges faced by others in their community

encourage their resourcefulness, intelligence and creativity to respond to these community and individual needs

gain the sense of fulfilment in undertaking challenging and useful work improve their awareness of important social issues

help to break down social prejudices and remove ignorance

develop and enhance their attributes of patience, commitment and dedication

Programmes

Participants

Romania 107,500

Moldova 12,200

Georgia 5,200

Armenia 4,300

England, UK 100+

Macedonia 200

Children with Special

Needs

All Residential Institutions

Locally identified needs in Villages

Vulnerable families

Other Target Groups (Roma,

IDPs)

National Strategy Priorities 2011 - 2012

1. On-going core focus children with special needs

2. New initiatives in villages in the Regions

3. Reaching out to include disadvantaged, marginalised groups

National Strategy Priorities 2011 - 2012

Increasing the number of children in Special Schools, Boarding Schools and Residential Institutions

Increasing the number of volunteers taking part week in, week out

Organising regular visits (at least once a week) as part of the CA programme of activities

Keeping up to date the Annual Schools Record Book as a full record of all CA activities and events completed

Regular evaluations from Directors, Coordinators, Psychologists, volunteers

Special CA Events to celebrate the achievements of the regular weekly CA programme

Organising Integrated CA Summer Projects

Community Action Activities

Educational activities

Expressive activities

Creative activities

Imaginative activities

Physically challenging activities

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Interaction Integration - Inclusion

Close collaboration

Positive praise and reinforcement

Active learning

Caring and supportive learning environment


Interaction Integration - Inclusion

Close collaboration

Positive praise and reinforcement

Active learning

Caring and supportive learning environment

Focus on teaching and learning

What are you drawing?

Who is on the bus?

Where do the people on the

bus come from? Where is the bus going?

What will they do when they

get there?

Why did you choose to draw

that?

COMMUNICATION

He says

COMMUNICATION

RE-TELLING THE STORY

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

Bravo!

CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT

What makes a good Activity session?

Engaging with the children

Purposeful, fun activities

Positive reinforcement with praise

Improving skills and confidence levels

Measurable difference achieved

Real sense of achievement

Celebration of progress made

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What makes a good Activity session?

Engaging with the children

Purposeful, fun activities

Positive reinforcement with praise

Improving skills and confidence levels

Measurable difference achieved

Real sense of achievement

Celebration of progress made

Planning Activity sessions

Aims clearly identified in advance

Activities accessible to all children

Planning Activity sessions

Progression planned from one weekly

session to the next

Community Action New Evaluation Model

In addition to the usual ways of evaluating the SNAC (surveys and

questionnaires), we are working on a new child-centred Evaluation

Model for measuring the educational development of children

regularly involved in CA activities:

What is this new Evaluation Model?

Based on observations of individual children during regular CA activity sessions with volunteers

Initial observations record the childrens levels of communication, action and response

Further observations of the same children in the same CA activity are made several weeks later to measure any changes

The Model is simple to use and may help shape future planning for these activity sessions

Community Action Evaluating educational progress

Effective child-centred support for children with special needs will allow

those children to:

Access and enjoy the whole curriculum

Develop their full potential alongside their peers (including volunteers)

Benefit from greater self-esteem and confidence

Community Action aims to promote these

changes and help all children make educational

progress.

A new Evaluation Model has been developed

which aims to provide evidence of such change

taking place in integrated CA activities.

Community Action Evaluation Model

ACTIVITY COMMUNICATION

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

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What are the Evaluation scores used for?

INDIVIDUAL CHILD

ACTIVITY

LEVEL

GENDER

1 2 3


What next? New Evaluation Model Trial based on observations of a range of

activities in the weekly SNAC programme in 3 Judets in Romania from

January 2012

Training in the Evaluation Model to be given to the 3 selected Coordinators in these areas for their new role as observers and

evaluators

New Evaluation Model Trial results will be reported in June 2012

Community Action County Coordinators Priority

To organise a Meeting for all LOCAL/SCHOOL Coordinators Agenda (Outline of Action Points for Coordinators, 2011-2012):

1. Weekly activities (e.g. art, dance, drama, music, sport)

throughout the school year as an established part of every CA

link programme

2. Planning for these weekly activity sessions

3. Schools CA Record Book to be completed by local/School

Coordinators

4. Evaluations (i.e. feedback, not the new Evaluation Model)

from Coordinators, Directors, Psychologists, Volunteers ,

Parents etc as usual during the school year

Community Action County Coordinators Priority

To organise a Meeting for all LOCAL/SCHOOL Coordinators Agenda (Outline of Action Points for Coordinators, 2011-2012):

1. Weekly activities (e.g. art, dance, drama, music, sport)

throughout the school year as an established part of every CA

link programme

2. Planning for these weekly activity sessions

3. Schools CA Record Book to be completed by local/School

Coordinators

4. Evaluations (i.e. feedback, not the new Evaluation Model)

from Coordinators, Directors, Psychologists, Volunteers ,

Parents etc as usual during the school year

Schools Community Action Record Book 2011 - 2012

A Definition of Community Action 2

B Aims and Objectives 3

C Benefits 4

D National Evaluation Form (December submission to the Ministry) 5

E History/Background of linked schools/institutions (+ CA map) 6

F History of Community Action at linked schools/institutions since 2007 8

G Action Plans 10

H Special Events / Competitions 15

I Photo Record of Community Action regular weekly activities & special events 19

J Posters Recruitment of volunteers, special events; Newsletters/School website 25

K Activity Session Plans (examples of good practice) 30

L Evaluations (Directors, Coordinators, Volunteers, Parents) 35

M Year Plan (2010 2011) 45

N Year Plan (2011 2012) 46

TO BE SHOWN WHEN NATIONAL COORDINATOR VISITS SCHOOLS




C Benefits 4




G Action Plans 10






M Year Plan (2010 2011) 45

N Year Plan (2011 2012) 46

Schools Record Book includes:

Short Case Studies

maximum of 3 children 1 or 2 pages long

Examples of CA success sent to NC

uploaded to Ministry website


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C Benefits 4




G Action Plans 10






M Year Plan (2010 2011) 45

N Year Plan (2011 2012) 46

Examples of CA website features

Interviews with volunteers, parents, Directors. Coordinators, partners in the community

New aspects of schools CA programme Report on specific CA Events Media reports on the schools CA programme Focus on the schools work with particular

disadvantaged groups


Recording Community Action

Photographic record of weekly sessions & events Photos showing collaboration, inclusion, achievement Celebrate CA in the annual Schools CA Record Book Sharing success on CA website

COMPETITION FOR THE BEST SCHOOLS CA RECORD BOOK

Recording Community Action

Photographic record of weekly sessions & events Photos showing collaboration, inclusion, achievement Celebrate CA in the annual Schools CA Record Book Sharing success on CA website

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Christmas/New Year

Easter/Spring

National Days

Local Festivals

Integrated Summer Projects

Community Action Annual National Evaluation Stages

There are 4 strands to the CA Evaluations of the NSCA each year:

December

Initial National Evaluation of numbers involved

February

Evaluation feedback from Directors, Coordinators and volunteers

May/June

Update of National Evaluation of numbers involved

Full evaluation questionnaire, giving details of frequency and

types of activity undertaken

Community Action Annual National Evaluation Stages

Day Activity

Special School /

Institution

Time Details

Mon

Tue

Wed

September

December

May/June

February

Community Action Calendar 2011 - 2012

MONTH KEY CA DATE / CA EVENT

September CA programmes in schools re-start, CA Training Conference(s)

October Programme of regular, weekly CA activities established

November 1st Evaluation starts link details & numbers of participants

December Evaluation deadline Christmas/New Year CA Events

January CA weekly visits and activities re-start

February CA sample Questionnaires sent out

March Easter/Spring CA Events

April National Evaluation starts

May Evaluations due, End of school year Celebration Event

June Schools CA Record Books received by National Coordinator

July Integrated CA Summer Project(s)

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Support for local Directors and Coordinators

Coordinators Handbooks Volunteers Guidebooks Activities Books Record Books Brochures

Sharing your successes and contributions will help develop these publications for future generations of volunteers we look forward to seeing the results!

What happens next

Weekly programme of CA activities Regularly update the Schools Record Book Sharing success with the National Coordinator for inclusion on the CA website

Regular Ministry and ACHLG visits to local CA link schools/institutions CA Special Events to celebrate achievements Training for the new Evaluation Model (2012)

Documents

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