School club as a tool for development of engagement of both parents and children in Dražovce neighborhood
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Challenges in Dražovce neighborhood
The Horizon 2020 IN-HABIT project in Nitra also focused on solving many complex challenges in the Dražovce neighborhood. In this part of the city of Nitra, the negative impacts of the localization of Jaguar Land Rover’s mega-investment are accumulating. Also, the neighborhood has been struggling with the deteriorating relations between the majority and the Roma minority. More than 90% of children within the local primary school are children from the local Roma community. The number of school pupils is decreasing. If the local community wants to succeed in its efforts to transform public spaces into more inclusive ones, it must secure also the engagement of minorities. In the co-design process, the involvement of children in school and their parents was identified as factor of key importance. Therefore the project supported efforts to increase the level of Roma children integration into society through innovative education.
A new school club led by IN-HABIT lecturers
IN-HABIT project initiated and manage the new voluntary school club. The school club is intended for all children. Focus will be put on various types of art and culture – art, drama, literature, green care, music or design. Each month the club will be led by a different lecturer. It will also be focused on a different kind of art every month. Within the first cycle of the educational activities in the club, we focused on visual arts. “During the art workshop, the children were supposed to draw their own unique tree of life using a method that includes elements of art therapy,” says Soňa Bellérová, activity coordinator. “In the next phase, performing arts activities will take place,” she added.
The club will continue in its activities also during the next year. In addition to its educational function, it is also supposed to contribute to the integration of children from the marginalized Roma community into society.
