[ April 21, 2021 by admin 0 Comments ]

The Bag with 2 Books (Punguța cu 2 cărți)

OvidiuRo Association

„Ion Creangă” National Children’s Library

Kaufland Romania

Progress Foundation Romania

Why?

In Romania, the dropout rate is 26.6% in rural areas and 18.1% in total, compared to an average of 10.6% in the European Union, and places penultimate in the PISA tests in 2018. In order to be economically competitive, at the level of the 21st century, Romania must improve the school performance of children. Literacy has proven to be the clearest predictor of school success, and early education the most effective investment.

In poor communities, children do not have access to age-appropriate books, already experiencing an educational gap, even before starting kindergarten or school. Combining the training of teachers and parents, quality educational resources and a network of teachers, leads to very good results in terms of the level of preparation of children to start primary school.

The COVID-19 pandemic has added another obstacle to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, where access to online learning is non-existent or limited and has widened the educational gap.

What?

The “two-book bag” offers parents from disadvantaged communities illustrated books for home, encouraging them to read to their children.

The pilot project, funded by Kaufland and implemented since 2019, was designed to educate poor parents on the benefits of reading with their little ones. Over 60 kindergarten teachers from Vrancea and Neamț counties participated in two training sessions and then organized in turn reading sessions for parents and young children in their kindergartens. Each participating teacher received a trainer kit and, on average, 5 “Two-bag bag” kits to offer to parents.

Volunteers (librarians, educators, teachers, social workers etc.) organized reading sessions with 1-2 years old children and their parents. After reading sessions, each child receives a bag with two picture books and a small toy suitable for this age category. Volunteers talk to parents about the advantages of reading aloud activities with children from the yearly age, encouraging them to read to children.

As a result of the project,  475 children together with parents have participated at reading sessions and have got picture books to take home; about 600 books donated to families from disadvantaged communities and 375 books were planned to be donated in February 2021. The project involved 100 volunteers (librarians) from 100 localitie, with more than 100 reading sessions organized.

Volunteers have been trained by OvidiuRo Association and „Ion Creangă” National Children’s Library on how to organize reading aloud sessions with small kids.

Parents have been told by the volunteers about the advantages of reading aloud to children from the early age and encouraged to read to children.

At the second reading of the book “From head to toe”, children had already begun to imitate the movements of animals. Parents showed interest and openness during the meetings; the atmosphere was relaxing, pleasant, constructive. We definitely produced some changes in the relationship with the children. Thanks for the opportunity! ” Mariana Vrabie, preschool teacher, Bălan Kindergarten, Harghita

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[ April 7, 2021 by admin 0 Comments ]

Pietrari Local Library helps the community get back into shape

Pietrari Public Library

Kilostop București

Why?

In Pietrari, a village of about 3,000 people, inactive lifestyles, poor diet and lack of information about nutrition resulted in over 25% of the population being overweight. Concerned librarians at Pietrari Local Public Library decided to help the community get back in shape.

What?

Librarians are using technology to confront obesity in their community head on – and the kilos are rolling away as library users now regularly work out in the reading room. Be Fit Not Fat was launched in October 2012. Outreach through schools drew an enthusiastic response: 180 people attended exercise classes in the library, using Wii fitness consoles, and 43 seriously overweight teenagers and mothers joined an intensive programme. To make sure weight loss is lasting and safe, the library works closely with fitness specialists, doctors and nutritionists.

So what?

Be Fit Not Fat combines action with interaction. During physical exercise classes in the library, participants use a  Wii Fit Plus console. This is a video gaming console programmed for fitness training. The console transmits a moving image of a fitness trainer to a television screen. Exercisers then create their own exercise program by using a remote control device to manipulate the image of the trainer.

Participants in the intensive fitness and nutrition program have created a Facebook page and a lively blog, for sharing experiences, giving encouragement and celebrating weight loss. Using library computers, they consult nutritionists in the capital city, Bucharest, many kilometers away, via the online communication tool, Skype.

I look different, feel different, and my husband and child appreciate the difference! Without Pietrari Local Public Library I would not have succeeded! Ileana Nitu, 22 kilograms healthier

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[ March 15, 2021 by admin 0 Comments ]

S.T.E.A.M Hour – Ora să ȘTIM

Progress Foundation

Asociația Bibliotecarilor din Republica Moldova

Why?

Lack of skills, resources and support in promoting literacy and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education for young children is a reality in rural communities in Moldova.

What?

Over 250 librarians were trained in organizing reading sessions with picture books for children ages 3 to 10 and on planning and hosting small STEM experiments connected with topics from the stories read.  Each library received a book package of 5 to 22 titles and illustrated books and support in developing their own activities. STEM topics addressed were explained in lay language and introduced in a fun manner making children excited about learning.

The 250 librarians from Romania and Moldova offered 2422 activities where 36640 kids participated and learned about topics like: animals, plants, natural phenomenon, shapes, colors, human body, chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. Children asked their parents and teachers to come at the library to regularly participate in Ora sa STIM activities, Moreover the adults involved in children education started to be aware of the opportunity that STEM activities have in spending quality time with children and used the resources provided by this project: http://www.progressfoundation.ro/blog/ora-sa-stim/

Providing access to quality education is harder for children from rural areas. Our efforts in helping them enjoy learning and bringing resources closer to them is contributing to more chances for success

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[ March 9, 2021 by admin 0 Comments ]

Public Libraries as Active Citizens Hubs

“Antim Ivireanul” Vâlcea County Library, Romania

Fundația Comunitară Vâlcea

Why?

This project will increase the active citizenship skills in 6 communities from 3 countries by setting out a network of public libraries and NGOs that will support the creation of public spaces for active citizenship learning and practice. In the process, stakeholders from Romania, Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine, countries with relatively limited democratic experiences, will learn how to set up partnerships, collaborate, and share good practices for cultivating the civic spirit in their communities.

What?

6 librarians and 6 NGO representatives from the participatory 3 countries were trained about the practical principles of engaging communities in democratic decisions and community projects, as well as plan for the implementation of the citizens hub in their libraries. Then, the 6  community teams formed by librarians, local NGO representatives and citizens worked together, and opened Citizens Hubs – spaces for citizens to gather and work together towards being active citizens involved in their communities.

So what?

Through this project,  Vâlcea County Library developed new library services and programs aimed to support communities’ needs and to develop these communities: health education programs, programs that encourage women to develop their own business, volunteer programs to involve citizens in promoting cultural and historical objectives from their communities. 

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[ March 4, 2021 by admin 0 Comments ]

CodeKIDS

Progress Foundation, Romania

Simplon, Romania

Why?

The quality of any education program in rural communities is poorer than average. As a consequence children in rural communities have almost no access to coding learning opportunities. Given the fact that their future will be  digital,  children with less opportunities would need  extra support  to become confident on their ability to learn and master programming languages and tools is very important.

What?

CODEKids clubs were open by public libraries in 150 communities where librarians facilitated free of charge learning of coding for middle school children. Two year curriculum was created and permanently adopted to the needs of the kids. Extra activities and gamification were included in the program. Regional Science fairs/CODEKids Fest events were organized so advanced children could work on projects and present them to the public.

So what?

More than 2300 participated in the Beginners group of CODEKids clubs and  879 of them went through also the Advanced group curricula. Dozens of them participated in open coding competitions at regional an d national level and won awards. Dozens of alumni of the project are part of the Robotics Team in their  high-schools. 

We provided access to quality and relevant education for children who have limited possibilities to break out of the underserved position of their families.

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[ February 4, 2021 by admin 0 Comments ]

Pro-active EU

Europe Direct Gorj Center from ”Christian Tell” Gorj County Library

Why?

Citizens were not fully aware of their power as active citizens to change their society, the future of their communities.

What?

30 public librarians were trained and later organized 30 workshops with 300 citizens from Gorj county. 

By building a network of 30 European information multipliers at the county level, public librarians became a bridge to the citizens. These multipliers were involved in the exercise of rights, simulation of voting process and recognition of the result in order to encourage the citizens in their communities to get involved in the voting process of the Elections for the European Parliament Members. They also learned how to deliver quality information about the EU and its communication policies and priorities and how to contribute to the promotion, protection and consolidation of democracy in their communities.

So what?

By the contribution of Gorj county public libraries, the turnout for the 2019 MEPs was higher than in the past. The project encouraged citizens to participate in the Elections for the European Parliament, to be part of the process of shaping the future of Europe and of our own country and the future of their communities, thus becoming active citizens who know that partnerships are the best way of achieving sustainable communities.

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[ February 4, 2021 by admin 0 Comments ]

Physical activity – medicine for health

Public library of the territorial community” of Katerynopil Village Council

Why?

With the help of the project “Physical activity-medicine for health it was necessary to solve the problem of rehabilitation of the elderly community.

What?

Elderly people received Nordic walking sticks to walk and recuperate.

Nordic walking greatly improves physical and mental well-being, increases the release of endorphins 5 times, normalizes the central nervous system: improves sleep, well-being, improves performance, helps to overcome depression; affects posture, improves the feeling of balance and coordination, strengthens the vestibular apparatus; up to 90% of all muscles of the torso are trained at the same time (all muscle groups of the leg, thigh, arms and shoulder girdle, abdomen work; muscles of the neck, back and chest muscles additionally develop), the body’s defenses are stimulated, immunity is increased ; pressure and load on the knee joints and spine decreases. Nordic walking strengthens the musculoskeletal system, does not require special training and has virtually no contraindications.

So what?

38 seniors aged from 50 to 83 years actively engaged in Nordic walking, and gained material support with appropriate equipment. In addition to walking, the group is engaged in breathing exercises, which is relevant during a pandemic. The activities encourage communication of group members, leading to dissemination of relevant information about life in the community and promotion of a healthy lifestyle in the community.

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