Thousands of Roma families in Slovakia face barriers to education, employment, and essential services. Many live in excluded areas, where support is fragmented and difficult to access. Development Teams I – a strategic project for Slovakia funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) – is changing this by offering a more coordinated and community-driven approach. 

A new way of working together 

Until now, different support services – community work, social fieldwork, and early childhood education – operated separately. This meant that many Roma families missed out on vital help. Development Teams I. brings these efforts together, making support more accessible and effective. 

The project follows a bottom-up approach, where local actors play a leading role. Their commitment is at the heart of the initiative, ensuring that the services truly respond to community needs. 

Reaching thousands across Slovakia 

Since its launch, the project has reached 16 000 people across 60 municipalities, helping them access new opportunities and essential support. So far, 719 people have found employment, while 12 000 family events have helped strengthen community ties. At the same time, 6 200 counselling sessions have provided guidance to unemployed people, helping them take steps towards the job market. 

Supporting Roma children’s early learning 

One of the key successes of the project is its support for young children entering education. In Petrovce and Laborcom, Roma women known as ‘Nenes’ and ‘Nenementors’ have been working with children and their families to develop basic skills and habits. Their efforts over the summer meant that children started kindergarten with confidence. 

Ms Polačková, a kindergarten teacher, saw the difference: 

‘I would like to warmly thank the Nenes and Nenementors in Petrovce. They worked very hard with the children, and the result is that they entered kindergarten smoothly and are now successfully involved in their schooling activities.’ 

Sharing lessons for the future 

A recent conference bringing together 250 participants from across Slovakia provided an opportunity to take stock of the project’s progress and share lessons for the future. The feedback was clear: the project is delivering real, tangible results. Continued ESF+ funding will keep helping Roma families access education, jobs, and essential services. By bringing together and strengthening local initiatives, the project is fostering a more inclusive future in Slovakia.