THE DREAM ROAD PROJECT – Paving the way toward improved Roma integration in the Danube region
THE DREAM ROAD PROJECT – Paving the way toward improved Roma integration in the Danube region

Summary/Abstract: In March of 2019, along with 276 other applications, the project titled DREAM ROAD – Danube Region for Improved Access and Empowerment of Roma Development was first submitted within the 3rd call for projects of the Interreg Danube Transnational Programme. The improved access and empowerment of a marginalized community, represented in all countries of the Danube Region, was and still is at its core, three years later. The 15-member partnership, representing 10 countries of the Danube region, gathered around the shared goal of improving communities by making sure all its members have comparable, if not equal, access to public services and life opportunities. So far, the project has triumphantly marked most of its planned milestones – including the establishment of Learning Labs as shared spaces of knowledge, skill and competence gain, as well as community areas in all participating countries. Currently in progress is engagement with public services providers, public authorities and decision makers, which aims to contribute to the strengthened inclusion of Roma in their local environments. With the COVID pandemic the partnership faced obstacles pertaining not only to its meetings but also with regard to reaching its target audiences. While the former moved to online space, the latter was implemented after major restrictions were lifted in participating countries and regions, in the spring of 2022. The implementation of educational activities and those aimed at skill and competence enhancement was underpinned by the pandemic, during which Roma settlements and communities were hit particularly and unjustly hard. As a direct result of the pandemic, Roma pupils were faced with the hybrid or exclusively online school models, bringing seemingly unsurmountable barriers to children from marginalized communities and a halt to their educational aspirations - often their only way of escaping marginalisation. Worryingly low numbers of Roma pupils attended classes during this period, as can be observed in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and other Danube countries. The DREAM ROAD project implementation took place against the backdrop of this complete exclusion of Roma pupils from education across the Danube region and amidst widespread concern among educators. However, the project was successful in tackling its main specific objectives – to mobilize and empower members of Roma communities to become agents of change, to strengthen skills and competences of relevant stakeholders and local communities for effective intercultural communication and implementation of novel solutions, to facilitate policy change through developing strategic partnerships, and stimulating development and implementation of novel approaches. The pillars of these suggested novel approaches are developed Learning labs as communal spaces where access to skills, knowledge and competences can be granted to Roma community members. These activities do, however, constitute only one side of the multifaceted project approach; in the final project stages, work with public authorities, decision and policy makers, educators, public employees etc. is under way.

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