Geri Roma inclusion policies in Reggio Emilia, Italy

Purpose:

The initiative aims to support the inclusion of the Roma community in Reggio Emilia by promoting intercultural interaction.

Stimulus/Rationale:

The city of Reggio Emilia has approximately 900 members of the Roma community (out of a total population of 170 000 inhabitants).

The main challenges faced by the City in ensuring the intercultural inclusion of the Roma community are:

  1. School integration, counteracting early school leaving and promotion of educational success of Roma children (work in schools has been carried out over many years – see the answer below about good practices)
  2. Housing: the Roma community living in Reggio Emilia (and in northern Italy in general) has the cultural specificity to live in mobile homes and micro-areas. In accordance with Emilia-Romagna regional law n. 11/2015, the municipality is promoting a cross-sectoral work to sustain decent, non-segregating and respectful of Roma culture, housing projects.          

Process:

The educators who work both in schools and within the Roma community play a crucial “bridge” and mediation role. For many years they have been helping these two contexts to communicate and share common representations. Over the past 8 years, the municipality has maintained a dialogue on this experience with Reggio Emilia University (Bachelor's Degrees in Primary Teacher Education and Education for Early Childhood Services and Socio-Pedagogical Context) ensuring that the knowledge gained is passed on to future teachers.

Moreover, the Department of Welfare and Intercultural policies of the municipality has a service that specifically deals with the inclusion of Roma community. This service has a strong connection with the local services and implements the regional, national and EU directives at a local level.

Thus, the city encourages the social and political participation of hard-to-reach groups, including Roma, mainly through a socio-educational intervention in the Roma community’s life. Special attention is dedicated to creating spaces of participation and interaction within the social context of the city.

Impact:

Key reference documents:

2022
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