KIFA ROMANIA IN THE „HOUSE OF FRIENDSHIP“, DON BOSCO IN ROMANIA

Project initiator:

Asociatia Organizatia Caritas a Diecezei (Diözesancaritas Satu Mare)

The childcare centres of Diözesancaritas Satu Mare look after children from socially vulnerable Romanian, Hungarian and Roma families, some of whom have grown up in poverty. Most of them live in run-down areas of the city of Satu Mare, Romania. Child poverty doesn’t just mean that material needs aren’t met. It’s an all-encompassing phenomenon that affects the whole of the child’s personal development and influences the rest of their life.

The KIFA Romania project aims to prevent poverty from having these negative consequences. The „KIFA“ concept has already been successful in Germany. „KIFA“ stands for „Kinder- und Familienbildung“ [education for children and families], and is an operational project that NEUMAYER STIFTUNG has been running since 2008. It is now being established in Satu Mare. Implementation of the project in Romania is based on professionals from Romania work-shadowing at KIFA in Germany.

Project description:

Trained teachers make sure that children in the Romanian facility learn and internalise all of the rules that will enable them to integrate fully into society. They start with basic hygiene and cover everything up to social norms. This opens up doors for the future. Families benefit from financial and non-financial assistance that prevents children from having to leave education early.

Courses and joint recreational opportunities involve parents in the educational work and encourage them to play an active part. This helps to develop parenting skills and also gives parents insights into society that lead to new opportunities and improved integration. Parents are given guidance to improve their parenting skills and test out ways in which they can change their behaviour to be positive role models for their children.

Project aims:

To give parents support with everyday tasks and to improve their independence, in order to create a positive attitude about their children attending kindergarten or school. This supports the role of the parents and there is a high probability that it will lead to children remaining in public education institutions for longer.

The parents’ sense of responsibility increases, their problem-solving skills improve in cases of illness, problems with education and with regard to family resources. Last but not least, the project aims to increase interest in books, education and cultural offers and therefore to promote equal opportunities.

Project location:

Satu Mare, Carei / Romania

Project start:

2015

Project target group(s):

Roma families from Satu Mare and the local population of the district where the children live. (Parents who have received training act as role models for parental behaviour for everybody in the local communities).

Duration of funding:

Since 2015

LEHR:WERKSTATT

Project initiator:

Tübingen School of Education

Tübingen School of Education is a cross-faculty, scientific institution that coordinates, organises and realizes studying, teaching and research activities relating to teacher education at the University of Tübingen. The training topics are grouped into and covered in six fields: studying and teaching, inclusion & diversity, professionalism, research and support of young people.

Lehr:werkstatt [Teaching Workshop] is an alternative form of internship for student teachers on the Bachelor of Education course.

Project description:

Instead of the three-week work placement, students („Lehr:werker“) who take part in the Teaching Workshop work in tandem with a mentoring teacher („Lehr:mentor“), and have the opportunity to shape and experience everyday life in school throughout the entire academic year. Students get the chance to put themselves and their teaching skills to the test in various forms of tandem teaching. The tandems are put together in a matching process and receive support for their cooperation.

Project aims:

To strengthen team spirit in the staffroom and to introduce new methods such as „team teaching“. This gives students the opportunity to work together intensively with experienced teachers and gives them a deeper insight into the work of a teacher and their everyday life. Students can become familiar with school structures and issues from a teacher’s point of view, throughout the school year. Future teachers are given the opportunity to gain teaching experience and slowly find their way into the role of teacher. Two “teachers” per class enable more individual support for pupils. („More people per pupil“)

Project location:

Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg

Project start:

2016

Project target group(s):

Student teachers studying for a Bachelor of Education (teaching post at a grammar school) and teachers

Duration of funding:

Since 2017; annually

LIVING SPACE FOR CHILDREN

Project initiator:

a.l.s.o. Schwäbisch Gmünd e. V.

For over 30 years, the social enterprise a.l.s.o. e.V. has been offering people in Schwäbisch Gmünd and the Ostwürttemberg region new perspectives and developing solutions to improve living situations and realise positive prospects and opportunities.

Project description:

Single parents and families in precarious living situations often live in flats with small and unfavourably cut rooms and unhealthy housing conditions. They also rarely have the financial means to carry out necessary repairs.

Numerous studies, such as the World Vision Children’s Study and the Bertelsmann Study Children’s Worlds+, prove the connection between the risk of poverty or concrete poverty, as well as inadequate housing and disadvantages in child development. The project of the a.l.s.o. Schäbisch Gmünd e. V. aims to improve problematic and unhealthy housing situations in the city and region.

Project aims:

To improve the housing situation according to the needs of (single) parents and their children.

Project location:

Schwäbisch Gmünd, Baden-Württemberg

Project start:

December 2020

Project target group(s):

(Single) parents and their children who are connected to the supporting association through further assistance measures.

Duration of funding:

Beginning of December 2020 – end of May 2021

BIRKLEHOF PERFORMANCE-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS

Project initiator:

Birklehof is a not-for-profit progressive boarding and grammar school with a holistic approach to education.

The private boarding grammar school in Birklehof in the Black Forest has 250 boarding pupils from grade 5. Alongside a focus on MINT subjects, creative and sports offers round off the programme at the boarding school. The humanist educational concept emphasises independent action and a sense of responsibility as a driving force for character development.

Project description:

NEUMAYER STIFTUNG has been supporting annual partial scholarships since 2014/15.

Scholarship recipients are chosen in a selection process that is the responsibility of the school. The only criterion for support is assessment of performance, but not just in respect of academic achievement. The applicants’ social skills and intelligence are also important.

Project aims:

Performance-based scholarships give gifted pupils access to an exceptional education.

Project location:

Hinterzarten, Baden-Württemberg

Project target group(s):

High-achieving grammar school pupils who are going into grades 10 and 11.

Duration of funding:

Each scholarship runs for one year and will be extended to Abitur [equivalent of GCE Advanced Level] as a maximum if proof of performance is provided.