Summertime, part two: Tutoring Re-Started

Improvised school board placed on makeshift wood-burning stove

This month we have more exciting news to share with you: we were able to restart the tutoring program. Thanks to the sacrificial undertaking of a few of our new members (all non-Roma) we were able to begin providing tutoring classes for church children again! 

As some of you may remember, we held these classes for a semester and a half in 2021/22 and then had to stop because some of the volunteers/teachers were unable to continue due to the changes in their schedules. Ever since, it has been a prayer of ours to continue with it, as we truly enjoyed each moment from the last classes! 

Tutoring is something we’ve been planning to do for years. The idea was born after realizing how much the Roma-RAE pupils fall behind their non-Roma classmates in regards to knowledge they acquire and success they make in school. 

I'd shared this in the past already, but I’ll repeat it once again: over the course of the last 20 years government institutions have done a lot to include Roma and Ashkali/Egyptian children into the educational system. The result of these efforts was that the vast majority of Roma and Ashkali/Egyptian children got enrolled into schools, something that was unheard of only a generation ago. Secondly, the government made sure that the kids don’t end up in “Roma only” schools and for that reason they dispersed the children to almost every elementary school all over the city of Podgorica and provided transportation to schools and back. To make sure the kids stay in school, the government has conditioned family’s welfare checks with kids’ school attendance, meaning that every child aged 6-15 had to stay in school and take classes regularly (more or less) or the family loses their government allowance. 

FYI: in Montenegro, the elementary school lasts for 9 years, it is compulsory and all elementary schools are public

All tutoring classes are taking place in our church's meeting room that we turn
 into a makeshift classroom twice a week

However, the governments, even when doing the best they can, can do only so much. The reality was that although they were attending school classes, Roma and Ashkali/Egyptian children acquired less knowledge and were getting worse grades than their Montenegrin classmates. There are several ways that can be explained, such as language barrier (Serbian comes as their second/third language), general unpreparedness for the ways outside of their own community, lack of support by their often illiterate parents, culture that favors instant gratification rather than prolonged one, etc. The end result of all these factors combined was that Roma and Ashkali/Egyptian children were basically spending time at school, without benefiting much out of it. Simultaneously, the schools were instructed to do their best to keep the Roma and Ashkali/Egyptian children in schools, even if that means simply letting them pass from one grade to another, turning a blind eye to the fact that, for example, many of them can’t read and /or are clueless about school subjects. Of course, the schools and the government would try to keep the public's attention to mere statistics (numbers) and to a small percentage of Roma and Ashkali/Egyptian children who did make it in school and/or play sports, etc., just to prove that their project is being successful. The majority of Roma and Ashkali/Egyptian children would remain, in lack of better word, unreached, and yet disillusioned that things will even get better for them and that they can become a part of the world that surrounds them. 

Due to the fact they lack behind their school work,

 we had to go back to the basics, such as this poem 

written on the white board. Although this poem is 

being taught to younger students, our team had to 

teach it to the older kids

Being a part of the community, we recognized the need for action  very early as the problem arrived, but it felt like our hands were tied. That  is why, back in 2021, we approached tutoring very enthusiastically, but unfortunately were not fully prepared for the job. Nevertheless, we learned our lesson and this time we were better prepared. Anyways, the tutoring was kicked off at the end of July, right after we realized that we won’t be able to organize a youth camp in the second half of August (again issues with schedules). We did not want to waste summer break in vain, so we wanted to use tutoring as a way to stay connected with the kids from our group and their families. 

This has proven to be a good decision. It actually gives us an even better way of connecting with the kids by helping them with some of the real life challenges and difficulties. While a youth camp experience is always uplifting, it also can be followed by a depressing return to daily routine. Instead, with tutoring we don’t take the kids away from their daily lives, but instead we join with them right  there where they’re at and, just hopefully, we contribute to                                                                        changing their reality they live in. Hopefully, it will also                                                                              make the Gospel more real to them.

Would you please keep our team in your prayers for God to give us strength and time to continue with this project throughout all of the next school year? Please pray that the kids don’t get bored or discouraged. Pray that we find ways to teach most effectively and that it really is helpful to the kids. Finally, pray that it creates a bridge to their parents and opportunities to share the Gospel with them. 

Also, please consider giving to help support our work. Every penny counts and helps, both for us and those we serve. As you can see, our capacities are limited, at least to say, but we are trying to be faithful with the little that we have, hoping that God will bless it and entrust us with more. Regardless, we firmly believe that local church should do its best to find ways to serve the community where it's at in a practical, meaningful and tangible way. This is why we are willing to turn our church space into makeshift classrooms twice a week.  

Furthermore, our volunteers are giving everything in their power to keep the work going, trying to navigate with their jobs, families and whatever else comes their way. It would be amazing if you could help make their work easier by donating for school supplies, teaching tools (we are looking into buying two smart TVs, one for each group) and all other things, big and small. Our partners (please see below and chose the most convenient way for you) will make sure we get the funds as quickly as possible:

MISSIONS AROUND THE WORLD

P.O. Box 973

Decatur TX 76234

steve@missionsaround.com (PayPal)

Note: Roma-RAE Ministry Montenegro 

STICHTING CHRISTIAN ROMA SUPPORT

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

IBAN:    NL51 INGB 0007 9979 16

BIC:       INGBNL2A

BANK:   ING Bank

Note: Roma-RAE Ministry Montenegro 

RETE EVANGELISTICA IN MISSIONE
IBAN: IT24J0200801612000101788993
Note: SINISHA SUPPORT/ROMA MONTENEGRO