On 21 December, three volunteers from Asociația Școala Pe Bune distributed 20 packages of essential products to 20 families in the Tei area of Sector 2, Bucharest. This marked the second consecutive year in which the organisation has carried out support activities in this community.

The activity was also an opportunity to connect this community support with the work of the EDURom – Education for Roma Social Inclusion project, implemented through the Erasmus+ programme.

Combining support with information

Alongside the distribution of the packages, participants received information about free educational opportunities available through EDURom.

The session introduced opportunities including digital skills workshops, social skills development and accredited formal education programmes. The aim was to make information about learning opportunities more accessible and to encourage people to consider education and skills development as a possible step towards new personal and professional opportunities.

For communities facing social and economic challenges, access to information can itself be an important barrier. Providing clear and practical information about available educational opportunities is therefore an important part of supporting participation.

Continuing the conversation with the community

The December session was not intended as a one-off activity.

A second information session is planned for February, with a stronger focus on understanding the educational needs of the community in greater detail. The information gathered through these conversations will help inform the development and adaptation of future EDURom activities.

This approach reflects an important principle of the project: educational opportunities should be shaped around people’s real circumstances, interests and needs.

By maintaining contact with the community and creating opportunities for open dialogue, EDURom and its partners can better understand what kind of support can make participation in education more realistic and meaningful.

Education as part of inclusion

The work carried out by Asociația Școala Pe Bune demonstrates the importance of being present in the community and building relationships over time.

For EDURom, these activities are an opportunity to bring information about education closer to people who may face barriers to accessing traditional learning opportunities.

The project aims to support Roma adults through accessible learning opportunities, skills development and stronger participation in society. Activities such as these help create the connections needed to understand communities first and develop solutions together.

The next InfoDays session in February will provide another opportunity to listen, learn and continue building educational activities that respond to the realities of the community.