Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences of the Slovak Academy of Sciences became one of the project partners in the new Interreg Danube Transnational Programme DREAM ROAD. The initial kick-off meeting of the project took place online on October 7, 2020. The scheduled complexion of the project is December 31, 2022.
The name of the project “Dream Road” stands for “Danube REgion for improved Access and eMpowerment of ROmA Development”. The underlying premise of the project is to bridge the existing gap between the Roma and non-Roma inhabitants of the region in the field of information, digital and functional literacy.
The leading partner of the project is the Research and Educational Centre Mansion Rakican (Slovenia). There are other 14 project partners involved which are well-renowned and established organizations dealing with Roma inclusion from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Moldova, Ukraine and Slovakia. Besides, other 14 local associative partners will participate in implementation of the main project objectives.
The methodology to achieve the project outputs involves developing a TOOLBOX of smart participatory methods aimed at achieving greater participation and involvement of Roma. Participation toolbox will facilitate the development and operation of LEARNING LABS, community spaces where information, functional and digital literacy is strengthened, relying heavily on the work of mediators, who will spark interest that is needed to create a community around these mobile/pop-up or fixed LEARNING LABS. Final methodological approach is empowerment of local communities, authorities, public bodies in their overcoming of existing mental barriers, while also enhancing skills to work with Roma.
At the kick-off meeting on October 7, 2020 the leading partner presented the main objectives and working packages to project partners. At the same time, the respective partners briefly presented their professional profiles and specified their contribution to the implementation of the project outputs. Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences together with the associative partner the City of Košice will be introducing a LEARNING LAB at the local Roma district Luník IX. Besides, CSPS SAS will be responsible for providing knowledge in social sciences methodology development to other project partners due to its status as an educational research facility and experience.
The project team from the part of CSPS SAS is comprised from these members: Ivana Studená, Anna Kalistová, Ondrej Ficeri and Slávka Mačáková (external member). Project members hold regular online working meetings.
