The possibilities could be seen as the following:
- Elevating awareness, knowledge, and skills among policymakers’ professionals and practitioners for supporting early development of who work with Roma families in the municipality of Zemun.
- Inclusion of a greater number of children from vulnerable Roma families in development counselling centers and Family Centred Early Childhood Intervention (FCECI) program in a culturally sensitive manner.
- Engaging in advocacy efforts for greater coverage of children aged 1-6 years from vulnerable Roma families in kindergartens and preschools aimed at parents and decision-makers.
- Enhancing intersectoral collaboration for improved early development outcomes of children from vulnerable Roma families.
Regarding outcomes 3 and 4, Faculty of political sciences strives to develop partnerships with UNICEF on several innovative initiatives with ultimate aim to bring closer and improve early development services and programs to vulnerable Roma families with children in Zemun municipality, City of Belgrade.
The challenges of the lab
The challenges we have faced since the inception of the project primarily stem from a persistent lack of financial resources, which are crucial for addressing such significant and complex issues. This financial constraint remains a substantial hurdle, impacting various aspects of our work and our ability to maintain momentum.
Moreover, there is a potential risk that stakeholders and influencers might lose interest or reduce their commitment during vacation periods or times of intense workload in their primary jobs. This ebb and flow of engagement can disrupt the consistency and effectiveness of our initiatives.
Another significant challenge is the limited resources available for engaging more mom influencers. Without sufficient funding, our capacity to recruit and sustain the involvement of additional influencers is restricted. This limitation can lead to periods of reduced activity on our social media networks, diminishing our outreach and impact.
Additionally, the team responsible for supporting our influencer moms in their posting efforts is currently comprised of only two members. These team members are consistently present and dedicated, but their small number could potentially affect the continuity and stability of our social media presence. A larger team would provide more robust support and ensure a more seamless and uninterrupted flow of content and engagement.
Addressing these issues proactively will help maintain the project's momentum and achieve its long-term goals.