If you are born into extreme poverty, you are very likely to do poorly in school and then have little chance of succeeding in working life. This will increase the likelihood of your children growing up in poverty. In Slovakia, this vicious circle affects tens of thousands of people, especially in excluded Roma communities. The failure of children from Roma settlements at school is ensured as soon as they start their first year. While middle-class children quickly learn to read, write and count, Roma children begin to have a significant difficulties. In most cases, they see a book or pen for the first time in their lives and do not know how to work with them, they have not developed psychomotor or cognitive basics, they only speak Romani, they do not know numbers, colors, shapes, etc.
The Omama project provides comprehensive early care to children from excluded Roma communities aged 0-6, helping to reduce the developmental slippage caused by the toxic stress that children in poverty face. Through a participatory approach, it involves the target group in solving the problem of generational poverty, as it trains and employs long-term unemployed Roma women from settlements who implement activities directly in families with children aged 0-3 years. It also strengthens the position of a vulnerable group of Roma women, who are becoming agents of change in their communities. The Omamas have lessons each week with stimulating activities for 15-20 families. Working with mothers and strengthening their parenting skills on an individual basis as well as through parent clubs once a month is key. In this project, the project promoters will expand the number of Omamas so that they can carry out an already proven activity with other children in the chosen age group.