Policy Center for Roma and Minorities officially opened the doors of an alternative educational club at the Elementary School No. 136 located in the Ferentari neighborhood, Bucharest. The project aims to create a new, safe, but open, creative and challenging space for the children living in this area. The children will have the opportunity to explore new perspectives and opportunities in order to counterbalance the current negative examples to which they are currently exposed to in the community. Through a wide range of activities we aim to develop the children’s social and practical skills and to stimulate an improvement in their school performance. “We are very happy that we could create this educational haven for the children in Ferentari, which is very well known for it’s bad socio-economic conditions “, said Radu Răcăreanu, the coordinator of the Alternative Education Club and Policy Officer at Policy Center for Roma and Minorities. “Most of the children here lack healthy role models, which can lead to several problems like school drop outs and bad educational results. We are comitted in showing the children there are other ways in which they can develop and fulfill their potential as human beings”, added Radu Răcăreanu at the end of the opening event. Through activities like sports,  children  will learn fair play and how to work together while still having fun. New optional classes will provide them with the opportunity to learn new practical skills such as video-making, to stimulate their own creativity and to facilitate the communication with their class-mates and teachers. With an every-day schedule, different tutors and trainers will be working with all the children who wish to join the activities. For more information about the club please go here. The Alternative Education Club is financially supported by the Embassy of Netherlands in Romania, the European Union and the Soros Foundation in Romania. If you want to get involved and support the development of the children in Ferentari please contact us at office@policycenter.eu and tell us what you can do.