A cross-border project brings Tdh psychosocial methodology to Bulgaria
After Romania, Albania and Moldova, Terre des hommes expanded its Movement, Games and Sport[i] methodology since 2014 to another country in the region, Bulgaria.
The new project, funded by the partnership and expert fund of the Bulgarian-Swiss Cooperation Programme is called Move (forward) with us! It will last until March 2016 and involve at least 240 children from two secluded Roma communities. The lead organisation, HESED – Health and Social Development Foundation, is a Bulgarian NGO that initially focused on health promotion and prevention in Roma neighborhoods, starting in 1998. It is now applying an innovative approach in two cities (Sofia and Kjustendil) through integrated health and social centers with a focus on community development.
The professionals trained by Terre des hommes Romania are front-line workers in direct contact with children in “mahalas” (a term used in the Balkans signifying ghetto) on a daily basis. A large proportion of the trainees are Roma. They are kindergarten teachers and assistant teachers, social workers, outreach workers, and psychologists. Terre des hommes Romania delivered its typical 10 day training and 10 day coaching in 2014, followed by refresher and coaching in 2015 to all staff involved. The result is qualified animators who now include psychosocial games and creative activities as part of HESED programmes.
Both partners are now involved in further awareness raising on the value of using games in innovative education schemes, health prevention and especially Roma inclusion. The HESED team successfully managed to adapt traditional Bulgarian games into psychosocial ones that include elements of child protection as well.
Antoniya Tilkova, the Project Coordinator of Move (forward with us) had a beautiful vision when the project started: “Let it flow like a river!”, she said. This is a very popular Bulgarian saying and tradition, which is used when children start something new and important. For example, on the first day of school, the mother would throw water on the ground and the child would walk on the water, symbolizing a positive, seamless transition. The same for marriage: the newlyweds walk on water and say: “let it flow like a river”. And indeed, that has happened.
“MGS helps kids start friendships and makes them happy! It is a pleasure for them to play the games! They learn how to work in teams as well. I am very happy when I see the kids like that. When I look at them, day by day, getting closer and taking care of each other, I feel proud that I may teach them not to hurt, not to speak badly but how to become friends”. My favorite game is “The witches”. All the kids who have played the game loved it. First, I played it with my own kids in the park. They really enjoyed it. And surprisingly, soon after, some other unknown kids came to play as well. “ Lili Dimitrova, HESED Centre Sofia.
Movement Games and Sport methodology was developed through a project implemented by Terre des hommes from January 2008 until June 2012 thanks to UEFA’s support in three Eastern European countries (Albania, Moldova and Romania). Since then, it has continued to expand with Tdh earning national accreditation by the National Authority for Qualifications for training of socio-educative animators in Romania.
Through games, sport and fair play events children learn to work on values such as cooperation versus competition, integration versus exclusion, and respect versus aggressiveness. Through the methodology, children are encouraged to share and exchange ideas, express opinions and feelings openly and listen to others without fear of discrimination. It therefore compliments the development, support and needs of children in addition to strengthening the “Universal Well-being Indicators” of children for them to be active, healthy, included, nurtured, respected and safe.
To organize the activities, adults working with children are trained and coached to use the methodology. These include teachers, school psychologists, members of Roma communities, social workers in prisons and orphanages, among others. Some of these people become trainers themselves in order for the training to be replicated to as many stakeholders as possible.