From an inclusive club to an inclusive classroom

Project goal:

Reducing the rate of early school drop-out among children from vulnerable and marginalized groups, especially from rural parts of the city of Pirot, children from poor families, Roma girls and boys, children with developmental disabilities, as well as children exposed to peer and other forms of violence.

Expected results of the project

1. Establishment of the Inclusive Club in Pirot

• Furnished inclusive club space in Pirot.
• A trained professional team of 15 professionals through accredited programs for the development of children’s social-emotional competences and support for families from marginalized groups
• Direct support to children: 60 girls and boys went through a social-emotional skills development program and individual learning support.
• Empowered parents: 40 parents improved their parenting skills and their role in the education and socialization of children.

2. Building a support network and local ecosystem

• Multisectoral cooperation: memoranda and protocols on cooperation between the Inclusive Club, the City of Pirot, the Center for Social Work, citizens’ associations and primary/secondary schools were developed and signed.
• Peer support: 100 children and young people from the general population formed peer groups and developed skills for prevention of peer violence, tolerance and solidarity.
• Teacher education: 30 teachers from Pirot primary and secondary schools improved their competences for recognizing the specific needs of students and applying inclusive strategies in teaching.
• Raised local public awareness of the importance of inclusion through a targeted campaign in traditional media and social networks.

The project is supported by the Intesa Foundation.

The project is implemented in cooperation with the City of Pirot, the Center for Social Work Pirot, and citizens’ associations Ternipe and MNRL from Pirot.