SERBIA / INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

Belgrade schools are becoming more inclusive, integrating students with disabilities and from the Roma communities. UNICEF executive board members pay a visit, to see for themselves the impact that the organization’s work can have in a middle-income country like this. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:40
• Production Date: 1 May 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: EDUCATIONAL POLICY; EDUCATIONAL PLANNING; EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS; DISCRIMINATION
• Geographic Subject: SERBIA
• MAMS Id: U130501c

Description

STORY: SERBIA / INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
TRT: 2.40
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / SERBIAN / NATS

DATELINE: 17-20 APRIL, NIS, VLADICIN HAN, KNJAZEVAC, SERBIA

Shotlist

1. Various, children in inclusive school
2. Various, executive board members visit
3. Various, board members meet partners
4. Med shot, Jarmo Viinanen at podium
5. Wide shot, Mr Viinanen walks with Roma child
6. Various, board members meet Roma family
7. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Olivera Ristic, Roma Health Mediator:
“They get scheduled examinations and vaccinations. Pregnant women are examined systematically. So much has been achieved – and the overall awareness of the Roma people is much higher.”
8. Wide shot, community centre
9. Various, children with special needs at community centre
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Jarmo Viinanen, UNICEF Executive Board President:
“It looks very impressive. The best results are achieved when we concentrate on the most vulnerable groups. That’s what they’re doing here, and the results are very impressive.”
11. Various, children playing
12. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Brankica Petkovic, Mother of Sara:
“I trust them completely – and Sara loves them. Overnight our whole world has turned around.”
13. Wide shot, girl plays basketball
14. Wide shot, Mr Viinanen on basketball court
15. Wide shot, children and staff members pose for group photo

Storyline

Serbia is changing – and its most vulnerable children and families are reaping the benefits. At this school in Belgrade, students with disabilities and from Roma communities study in mainstream classes. Just a few years ago, they wouldn’t have been here.

UNICEF executive board members came to Serbia to see for themselves – the impact that the organization’s work can have in a middle-income country like this.

Key partners include Government departments and the European Union. UNICEF works with them to develop policies which benefit Serbia’s most vulnerable children. There’s a high-level, cross-party parliamentary committee on child rights. And a vibrant civil society sector helps to keep the government accountable.

And here’s where the benefits are felt. This Roma settlement is in Vladicin Han – one of Serbia’s poorest municipalities. But thanks to UNICEF and its partners, health mediators now provide a vital link to local medical and education services. That’s giving these children hope for a better future.
SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Olivera Ristic, Roma Health Mediator:
“They get scheduled examinations and vaccinations. Pregnant women are examined systematically. So much has been achieved – and the overall awareness of the Roma people is much higher.”

This community centre supports Roma children in getting ready for school – and staying there once they’ve enrolled. It should help to change a grim statistic – only one in five Roma children attend secondary school. Centres like this are open to the whole community.

SOUNDBITE (English) Jarmo Viinanen, UNICEF Executive Board President:
“It looks very impressive. The best results are achieved when we concentrate on the most vulnerable groups. That’s what they’re doing here, and the results are very impressive.”

SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Brankica Petkovic, Mother of Sara:
“I trust them completely – and Sara loves them. Overnight our whole world has turned around.”
It’s a positive, progressive picture. UNICEF has helped the government to implement new policies – and Serbia’s most vulnerable children are now more likely to stay with their families and go to school.