Bridging the gap: engaging Roma and migrant families in early childhood education through trust-based relationships

Abstract

Family participation and involvement in schools has been reported to be crucial for improving academic achievement and social cohesion, especially among those systematically excluded such as migrants or the Roma population. However, these families often participate less in school life. This hinders any attempt to reverse the cycle of inequality experienced in Europe by the Roma and migrant population, among others. This study focuses on a specific school that has successfully engaged Roma and migrant families. Particularly, this case study aims to identify the characteristics of the relationship that the Roma and migrant families have with the school and the way that parents' involvement in the education of their children has been promoted. The main results show that the participation of these families has been fostered by a strong collaboration constructed with egalitarian dialogue, trust and confidence-based relationships, and having a shared purpose of ensuring high-quality education for all children.

Trust, Sociability, and Quality of Life of Sub-Saharan African Migrants in Germany

“…Migrants' integration programs and policies in the host environment strongly link with trust (Tatarko, 2020). Understanding trust among the SSA migrants and the effect on QoL requires extensive investigation as most evidence on migrants is based on institutional support such as encouraging migrants to participate more in problem-solving (Nahm, 2015), helping migrant families with children (Khalfaoui et al, 2020), and Migrant Integration Policies (Tatarko, 2020). In the case of SSA migrants, moving from their natural habitat to a new territory may envelop their instinctive ability to display trust based on the premise that westernisation may influence their cultural perception of trust (Idemudia and Olawa, 2021).…”

Perspectives on Early Childhood Education in Romania: a Qualitative Research

“…Their participation rates in ECEC programs are typically much smaller than those of the local community, while their support requirements are greater, and raising these rates is a crucial strategic priority across the EU. As shown by ongoing pilot projects on Roma integration in some Member States with a financial commitment from the EU budget, ECEC facilities will play a key role in closing school gaps for Roma children (Khalfaoui, García-Carrión, Villardón-Gallego, 2020).…”

COVID-19 vaccination campaigns and the production of mistrust among Roma and migrant populations in Italy

“…While these groups are diverse, they have all been included in recent policy declarations to construct inclusive approaches to vaccination. 20 …”

“…While these groups are diverse, they have all been included in recent policy declarations to construct inclusive approaches to vaccination. 20 In Rome, participants were largely young men from Albania, Peru, Ecuador, Morocco, Bangladesh, Venezuela and Indonesia. Participants lived in housing 'occupations' or rented apartments with other co-nationals, and had done so for several years, earning a living through informal labour including as caregivers, factory labourers, restaurant workers and cleaners.…”