Public Affairs Intern Steven Newman met with high school students from Roma communities in the towns of Kyustendil and Pazardzhik who participated during the past school year in an English language program. The students were invited to attend a summer English language camp in Bansko, organized by the Bulgarian NGO Trust for Social Achievement (TSA) and the Roma organization Arete Youth Foundation. During the camp, students studied English through interactive competitions and games, while also participating in social and leadership development activities.
The English language program for Roma students is part of the project “A Step Toward Success: Access to English for Youth in Roma Communities”, developed and piloted by TSA with U.S. State Department funding. It offered English language instruction and skills training to 200 youth and motivated them to stay in school. We thank CORPluS Foundation for designing the English language curriculum and Arete for providing leadership development instruction for the students.
