ROMA ASSISTANT AT PRIMARY SCHOOL LILICA MAJER APRIL, 2012 Slovenia Prepared by: Petra Poje (mentor) and Lili Majer (Roma assistant)

I WORK IN TWO SCHOOLS PRIMARY SCHOOL OŠ OB RINŽI (16 Roma attending) PRIMARY SCHOOL WITH ADJUSTED PROGRAMME (11 Roma attending)

I SHARE A STUDY WITH OTHER TEACHERS TABLE CABINET COMPUTER, PRINTER

MY WORKSPACE CLASS-ROOMA SPECIAL ROOM FOR TEACHING AID

MY WORK TEACHING AID FOR ROMA PUPILS

TO HELP THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER

MY WORK CREATIVE WORKSHOPS WITH PUPILS

MY WORK TAKING CARE OF PERSONAL HYGIENE OF THE PUPILS IN SCHOOL (WASHING, GETTING CLOTHES FROM THE RED CROSS)

MY WORK VISITING PARENTS AND CHILDREN AT THEIR HOME

MY WORK DEVELOPMENT OF ROMANY CULTURE AND LANGUAGE LEADING AN AFTER-SCHOOL DANCE CLUB “ORIENTAL DANCE”

INTERNATIONAL ROMA DAY ON APRIL THE 8th (WORKSHOPS, CEREMONY)

READING ROMANY FAIRY TALES, STORIES, POEMS

MY WORK PERFORMANCES WITH ROMA AND NON-ROMA PUPILS

LIVING CONDITIONS OF ROMA PUPILS The majority of Roma live in wooden sheds: they live in poorly organized settlements, without electricity and water. Problem: most threatened is the family, where the father is seriously ill, he has to have an oxygen tank that is being run by an aggregate, for which they have to buy gasoline on daily bases. Sometimes I go to the settlements announced, sometimes not. When I come to a settlement, usually the whole family gathers around me. They welcome me warm and friendly. We talk about school. I help the pupils with their homework, I read them stories, etc…

GOOD EXPERIENCES WITH PUPILS: Good experiences with pupils are first of all achieved educational aims and objectives. Above all things I am most pleased that they have accepted me well and that they can rely on me with their school obligations. A great achievement to me means also that they come regularly to school and that they stay with me after classes. What the pupils most like is that I talk to them in Romany language and that I follow their success in school.

GOOD EXPERIENCES WITH PARENTS I am happy that the parents welcomed me well and that they understand my work. They told me that some pupils like to go to class, that they rely on me a lot and that they can see the progress their children are making at school. Most of them would like very much that I visit them also in my spare time as a family friend, not just officially.

GOOD EXPERIENCES WITH TEACHERS I am very pleased that the teachers accepted me well. I am also aware of the fact, that teachers would very much like for Roma pupils to be successful in school and that other non-Roma pupils would accept them as well.

BAD EXPERIENCES BAD EXPERIENCES WITH PARENTS I have bad experience with parents, which don’t send their children regularly to school. At the beginning the problem was also bad hygiene of the children and their living conditions… Because of the fights between different families some parents don’t want that the Roma children socialize among themselves or go home together.

MY OPINION I am very happy to work as a Roma assistant. I have met a lot of new and interesting people. I am most pleased to have the opportunity to socialize with pupils and co-workers. Most of all I like to work with my mentor, with whom I have a great relationship, we work together very well and she helps me with my work most of all.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION