The Civil Association

Cesky zapad

updated 2010

Helping Romani Community in Dobra Voda at Touzim and its surroundings

Community efforts in Dobra Voda and the surrounding area of Toužim, which includes the project „Petty School“

The motto: To take life in ones own hands.

The history of the association

• the nearest neighbours brotherhood Trappists – monks and their care for the neighbours from Dobra Voda

• offer of employment for the repair of the monastery in 2000-2001, for the help they offered help in establishing association

• 17. 12. 2001 - the establishment of the social program of Cesky zapad

Target group

80 individuals from Roma community living in a pre-fabricated building with fourteen small apartments, and in the village where approximately another twenty inidividuals are a minority.

The community of DobráVoda is about 10 kmsfrom the city Toužim.

In the community there isno store, restaurant, oreven any facilities forcultural activities. Thearea is cut off fromsociety.

The village of Dobrá Voda

Monastery of the Trappist Order near Dobrá Voda

In a remote neighbourhood about 1.5 km away, a monestary of monks was established, who support activities of Cesky zapad.

Our mission is to develop civil society in the area of Touzim. According to the members of our association, civil society means such a society where social exclusion is curtailed, manifestations of xenophobia and ethnic intolerance limited and in which citizens show interest in resolving public issues.

The mission of Cesky zapad

Our activities

- We provide social services according to Act no. 108/2006 Coll., which consist mainly in social activation services for families with children and field programs.

- We organize educational and vocational programs, we offer individual education.

- We create work opportunities and we help people succeed on the labor market.

- We organize free time activities as a prevention of pathologic phenomena.

- We involve socially excluded inhabitants into solving problems of community interest, mainly on municipal level.

- We help to raise the standard of social culture (housing, peaceful civic coexistence, etc.).

Our activities

- We support self-confidence of socially excluded inhabitants and we encourage them to discover their uniqueness, resourcefulness and possible further growth.

- We help to overcome communication barriers between the inhabitants of the panel house in Dobra Voda and the representatives of state authorities.

Our activities

Our Goal

Our goal is to create conditions in Dobra Voda which will facilitate good quality of life for the residents, through a fundemental change in the people themselves, in the whole community and in the view of the majority of society. Through their work we will establish priciples of community efforts.

Cesky zapad - Ethnic Friendly EmployerEthnic Friendly Employer is a brandthat allows to award those employerswho declare their support to equaltreatment to ethnically differentpopulation and fulfil this principle ona long-term basis in personalpractice.

The brand is awarded by the CivilAssociation IQ Roma servis fromBrno.

Cesky zapad was awarded in April2008.

More information at

www.cesky-zapad.cz

Petty SchoolMotto: Discovering the world

Alternative institution to a kindergarten for Romani children of two to six years of age in Dobra Voda.

What is Petty School

- Every week day from 10:00 AM for approximately 90 minutes

- Takes place in a clubhouse (the seat of Cesky zapad)

- Target group – Roma children from Dobra Voda from 2–6 years of age, which for a variety reasons do not attend kindergarten in Toužim or do not attend regularly

Goal: prepare children to enter into kindergarten or elementary shoolprovide an stimulating environment for the ideal development of children

How it works?

- Assistants pick up children from their families (a chance to meet daily with their parents)

- After coming together to the clubhouse, changing into indoor shoes at their cubbies

- Opening in so called ellipse, seating is on the floor with pillows, a day topic or new tools are introduced to children

- themed group work

- free activities, outdoor walks

- end - walking around the ellipse

- accompany the children home

How it works?

Method of workUsing the pedagogicalphilosphies of Mrs MarieMontessori in working withthe chidlren

Mrs MariaMontessori

- born in 1870 in Italy- pharmascist, later studied

pedagogy and became a psychologist

- worked with mentally disabled children in an experimental school so called Model school

- testing of didactical materials for work with children

- later worked with healthy children – establishing schools all over the world

Methodology

Various areas of M. Montessori pedagogy:

1) Common life practice - since babyhood- work with real things not with toys (e.g. sweeping, pouring water)

2) Senses education- using tools for development of senses (e.g. scented bags)

Methodology

3) Language

Methodology

4) Mathematics

Methodology

5) Cosmic education- looking for links among biology, geography, history etc.

Methodology

General principles

- instead of toys real tools are used, always tasteful and attractive

- work with tools- opening – course – end- order in everything- The tools are made in the way that

children are able to check their work by themselves. This encourages their independence, responsibility and self-confidence.

Other principles of the method

- stimulating environmentprepared – inner andouter

- free access to shelveswith tools

Working with sensitiveperiods of children whenthere is maximal opennessto obtain new skills

Other principles of the method

Working with mistakesthat are understood asnatural thing in theeducational process.They are not punished.

Other principles of the method

Respect for freedom ofchildren – to give childrenas much responsibility asmuch children can bear.

Opportunity to choose.

Other principles of the method

Development of innermotivation of children –no punishment, nopraises, but naturalconsequence of action

Other principles of the method

A role of pedagogue –watching, accompanying,incitement, offering andrespecting

Other principles of the method

Achievements in Dobrá Voda

- better readiness for a basic school

- easier keeping pace with school curriculum and social relationships in school

- later move to a special school if any at all

The seat of the organization

Cesky zapad o.s.Dobrá Voda 8364 01 ToužimCzech RepublicTel: +420 353 391 132GSM: +420 602 663 585E-mail: info@cesky-zapad.czWeb: www.cesky-zapad.cz