Sources: UNICEF Romania, Eurostat.
In Rădăuti, near Romania’s border with Ukraine, poverty, poor health, family instability, and limited access to educational support can make it difficult for children to remain engaged in school.
These barriers are particularly significant for children from Roma families, who continue to experience discrimination and unequal educational outcomes. Without consistent support, children who fall behind can face an increased risk of leaving school early, exploitation, or separation from their families.
The pressures affecting education often extend beyond the classroom. When families are navigating financial hardship, illiteracy, illness, or unstable housing, completing homework, attending school regularly, and maintaining daily routines can become difficult.
The Rădăuti Afterschool Program addresses these interconnected challenges by providing children with a safe and supportive place to go after school.
Run by Centrul Maria Ward, the program combines educational support with daily meals, hygiene routines, counselling, and practical assistance for families. Children receive help with their homework, strengthen foundational skills, and develop routines that support consistent school participation.
By working alongside children and their families, the program helps address the circumstances that can interrupt education and place children at risk.
Daily sessions give children a quiet, structured place to complete homework and receive help with areas they find challenging.
Staff adapt their support to each child’s needs, helping them strengthen core skills, keep pace with schoolwork, and remain connected to their education.
Children receive a meal each day, providing reliable nutrition and easing pressure on families experiencing financial hardship.
The program also helps children establish everyday hygiene and self-care routines, supporting their health, confidence, and school participation.
Counselling and attentive care give children space to talk about the challenges affecting their lives.
This support helps children build trust, manage difficult experiences, and develop the confidence and stability needed to participate in learning.
The program works closely with parents and caregivers, recognising that family circumstances can strongly influence a child’s education and wellbeing.
Material assistance, counselling, and practical guidance help families manage immediate pressures and create safer, more stable home environments.
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