1. increasing the efficiency of alternative sanctions
ROMA MENTORING
increasing the efficiency of alternative sanctions

2. RUBIKON Centrum Programs to increase employability
- Support of social stabilization
- Job counseling
- Cooperation with employers
Programs to solve debts
- Courses of financial literacy
- Debt counseling
Programs to increase efficiency of alternative sanctions
- ROMA MENTORING
- Programs for juvenile offenders
Educational Services
- Accredited courses of financial literacy and debt counseling
- Expert services

3. Roma minority in the Czech Republic
150 – Roma inhabitants
(census 2001: pop.; census 2011: pop.)
85% Slovak (Hungarian) Roma (Rumungri)
10% Vlachike Roma (Olaši)
5% original Czech / Moravian Roma and Sinti
in socially excluded localities (more than 75% are Roma)
60% of Roma are unemployed
15 000
Jedi Knights
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4. Roma Mentoring
Intended for Roma clients of Probation and Mediation Service
to encourage the clients to fulfill obligations related to alternative sentence or measure
to lower risks of re-offending and social exclusion

5. Inspiration from Denmark
Roma Mentoring
Unique know-how
Inspiration from Denmark
more than 2200 clients
29 centres of PMS
in 9 regions of CR
average efficiency of intervention 50 %
142 mentors have been trained
since 2004
evaluated by PMS
every 2 months

6. Provided by Roma mentor: Trained layman from Roma community
Roma Mentoring
Provided by Roma mentor:
Trained layman from Roma community
Adult, no criminal record
Strong interest to help his/her own people
Graduate of specialized Mentor training course (60 hours -theory, 40 hours -practice)
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7. Roma mentor´s tasks
Motivating clients to fulfill the obligations related to alternative sentence (measure).
Assisting and supporting clients in settling debts, seeking jobs, housing, etc.
Linking clients with other providers of professional services in the region.
Assisting clients in communicating with the authorities, institutions (and vice versa)
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8. Roma Mentor: role and methods of work
Success of the scheme is based on:
Cultural, language and ethnic closeness between mentor and his client.
Mentor´s ability to communicate with officials and representatives of majority.
Mentor´s ability to connect both sides, make communication “bridge” between client and institution.
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9. Obstacles to fulfillment of alternative sanction
Communication barrier
Spatial barrier
Subjective barriers
inability to contact a client

10. MENTOR´S PERSONALITY: SPECIFIC TOOLS
Main success factors
MENTOR´S PERSONALITY: SPECIFIC TOOLS
INDIVIDUAL APPROACH
FIELD WORK
WIDE SOCIAL NETWORK
KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY
PERSONAL AUTHORITY
INFORMAL APPROACH

11. Roma mentor as communication bridge
„translate“ from bureaucratic language
explain the obligations and consequences
eliminate the myths
info about cultural and social context of client´s situation
understanding of clients motivations
eliminate the stereotypes
CLIENTS
PMS
ROMA MENTOR

12. Roma mentor: role and methods of work
Roma mentor is able to:
gain clients´ trust,
break through existing barriers,
communicate with clients in their own language,
efficiently explain obligations resulting from alternative sentence
motivate clients to fulfill them to avoid the consequences.
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13. Roma mentor: role and methods of work
Roma mentor is also able to:
deal and communicate with officials and institutions,
link the clients with other providers of professional services in the region,
help officials to understand and orientate in Roma community.
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14. Roma mentor: role and methods of work
Roma mentor works as a:
Positive role model (on both sides)
Cross cultural mediator and communication link
Necessary principles:
Building and cherishing mutual trust
Equal professional relationships
Gentle insistence on rules
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15. Roma Mentoring – low-threshold service
Helps increase the potential of Roma minority, as it gives the Roma people who haven´t attained vocational education the opportunity to participate on social work for their own community.
During their work with clients and supervisions they improve their skills professionally and personally grow and improve their position on job market.
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16. Roma Mentoring – possibilities
2005 – 2012 applied on other target groups/programs:
- ex-prisoner reintegration
- empowering of endangered Roma families
- crime and extremism prevention
- monitoring hate crime incidents, helping the victims
Future possibilities of use in areas of:
- Roma / non-Roma conflict resolution,
- employment and job creation
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17. Current situation Projects financed by European Social Fund
2016–2019 (3 years)
19 centers of PMS in 8 regions
app. 35 mentors
+ 30 newly trained mentors

18. Roma Mentoring – future?
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19. Thank you for you attention!
RUBIKON Centrum
Korunní 101, Praha 3
Czech Republic
Web:
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