The Erasmus+ pupils found a sponsorship with a Roma refugee class in Amaro Kher – Rom e.V. School project

Unschooled Roma refugee children are educated in the Amaro Kher-School project in Cologne. In cooperation with the youth welfare service, the education authority and networked with schools and recreational facilities, this school project has been started for 30 “tolerated” children from refugee hostels. The pupils are between 6 and 13 years old. These children usually experience school for the first time when they go to school here. More than half of the Roma children in Europe still do not finish school – and if they do, then only in so-called special needs schools. The pedagogical support of the Amaro Kher- School project offers the often traumatized and educationally neglected children an educational chance.

The pupils of the Erasmus+ Project want to take part in these tasks and meet the participants at eye-level, especially because minorities are not numbers, but people. “We want to listen, but also participate. We want to understand and bring others to understand. We want to close the gap between the cultures and therefore reduce prejudice and racism.” A long-term sponsorship with common meetings and activities which encourages togetherness and lessens prejudice as well as offering support in different ways is being planned. The pupils of the refugee class will be visiting us on July 7th! At the first meeting last Thursday the Erasmus+ Pupils personally handed over the answers to the previously received letters by the sponsored children. Not many words were exchanged during the mutual introductions of the partners. But communication can take place in different ways…

For example, by enjoying a breakfast together that the sponsored class and the teachers, Nicole Fahuar and Beata Burakowska, prepared for us. Or through dancing and making music together. The musical talent of some pupils really impressed us!

But there was also time for more serious topics: During a tour of the grounds of the Rom e.V. we visited one of the most important archives for Roma history and culture. Ruźdija Sejdović, an author who oversees the archive and also is involved with his colleagues in schools against discrimination, explained the concept of “gypsies”. Many people use this word because they do not know better, or to discriminate against the Roma deliberately. “Gypsy” is a “poison” word, however – as Sinti and Roma were deported and murdered under this label during the 3rd Reich and it is still connected to negative prejudices today. Especially children and young people suffer from this and try to keep their descent secret because they fear discrimination and bullying.

We hope to decrease prejudice with our project and to support the children in the Amaro Kher-Class, so that their start in a regular school succeeds!