The Ovidiu Rom association together with the Education, Research and Youth Ministry is launching a contest aimed at city halls, the aim being to bring to kindergarten this school year an underprivileged child. The contest was idea of Ethan Hawke, who serves in the board of the Alex Fund. The Alex Fund, a US NGO has donated USD 100,000 to help communities register all eligible children living bellow the poverty line to kindergarten. Five communities will receive a grant of USD 20,000 (EUR 15,000) to be used for registering and keeping the children in kindergarten in the school year 2010 – 2011.
To be eligible communities must have a school mediator in the community, having at least 50 children not attending kindergarden, the local community’s capacity to implement the Ovidiu Rom methodology, and the drive to bring every child to kindergarden.
Each selected community receives up to EUR 150 for every student whose family lives below the poverty level. In addition to providing food coupons to families whose children have perfect attendance, these funds cover teacher training and educational resources.
More information on the contest can be found at
http://www.ovid.ro/strategy-and-programs/national-contest/.