Skopje - On Friday April 5, in honor of the International Roma Day, USAID Macedonia Mission Director Robert Wuertz visited the Dendo Vas Center for Educational Support for Roma in Gorce Petrov Municipality. This Center, together with three other centers in Prilep and Kumanovo, has been part of the USAID Roma Education Project since 2004. Every year, the project provides assistance to around 200 preschool-age children to better prepare them for entering primary school. Additionally, the project provides out-of school support to 800 Roma primary school students to improve their school achievements. 

“I am here today to congratulate you on International Roma Day and also to congratulate you on the results that the student-participants of the USAID Program are achieving in school, thanks to the support of the Center's educators , the support of their school teachers and their parents,” said Robert Wuertz, USAID Mission Director. “Good quality education is the key precondition for getting out of poverty and exclusion. Therefore I encourage you to continue the effort to assist young Roma to complete their education successfully so they can compete in the labor market and become actively involved in all spheres of society.”

The USAID Roma Education Project is a $4.5 milion initiative that assists over 1,000 Roma students annually to improve their completion and achievement rates. From its start in 2004 to date, 298 secondary and 89 Roma university students completed their secondary and university education with  USAID and FOSM support; and over 450 primary and 157 secondary school teachers received training in education for social justice and interactive teaching methods.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

The American people, through USAID, have invested over $500 million in Macedonia since 1993. USAID is working with the people of Macedonia to create jobs, strengthen democratic institutions and practices, enhance integrated education, and prepare students for the workforce. These initiatives improve the quality of life and support Macedonia’s transition to a stable and prosperous democracy. USAID provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries. For more information please visit http://macedonia.usaid.gov and USAID FB page http://www.facebook.com/USAIDMacedonia.