The CHAVORE Initiative: Mental Well-being of Young Roma Children, funded by the European Commission Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV, works across Europe to promote the mental health and well-being of young children, particularly those from vulnerable communities such as Roma families. By supporting early childhood practitioners and parents with culturally responsive training tools, CHAVORE fosters environments where all children are seen, heard, and nurtured from the very beginning.
Over the past few months, consortium partners have been designing a self-paced learning targeting early childhood practitioners working directly in contact with young Roma children and their families in diverse settings. This learning opportunity will equip these practitioners with knowledge and practical tools to support the holistic well-being of families.
The seven learning sessions developed across the CHAVORE partnership illustrate how the initiative is being brought to life in diverse contexts. For example, the sessions developed by partners in Croatia, Kosovo, and Hungary, which focus on Psychological First Aid, Emotional Literacy and Resilience, and Inclusion and Self-care respectively, highlight the shared commitment that responsive adult-child relationships are essential to nurturing young children’s well-being and development.
The self-paced learning is deeply grounded in real-life practice, as well as a participatory mapping with practitioners, parents and young children aged 3-6 to explore their needs and coping strategies. Early childhood practitioners are guided to reflect on their own emotions, cultural assumptions, and relational patterns, and to make changes that support children's sense of safety, confidence, and belonging.
The tools used are practical and participatory: storytelling, role play, supervision, reflection exercises, and observational strategies. Importantly, each partner is shaping the learning experience in their local context. A validation phase will be conducted prior to commencing the piloting phase.
Together, these learning sessions embody a move from awareness to action: empowering early childhood practitioners to understand the needs of vulnerable children, and meet them with care, competence, and intention.
About: CHAVORE (meaning “children” in Romani) is an initiative enhancing the mental health and well-being of young children in vulnerable communities, especially Roma. It promotes inclusive, culturally sensitive early childhood care across five countries. Built on the expertise of the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) and its Romani Early Years Network (REYN) initiative, CHAVORE leverages a transnational partnership across five countries to develop inclusive and responsive early childhood education and care. Funded by the European Commission, the consortium is comprised of ISSA members, led by Educational Research Institute (Slovenia), and includes Open Academy Step by Step (OASbS), Partners Hungary Foundation (PH), Skola dokoran - Wide Open School (SD), and Kosovo Education Center (KEC), and the ISSA Hub. Learn more at chavore.reyn.eu.
