The "Call for Education - Romania & Bulgaria," an initiative launched by UniCredit Foundation in collaboration with UniCredit Bulbank and UniCredit Bank Romania in support of projects aimed at addressing educational disadvantage carried out by non-profit organizations in the two countries, has concluded.
Out of a total of 110 applications received, 4 initiatives have been awarded with total contributions of around 500,000 euros. In coherence with the new Foundation's purpose to unlock the potential of Europe's next generation through equal educational opportunities, this Call has engaged local banks in identifying and supporting projects contrasting educational disadvantage in Bulgaria and Romania, carried out by non-profit organizations in favour of lower and upper secondary school students (11-19 age), with particular focus on:
- Tackling early school leaving;
- University attainment;
- Acquisition of adequate skills to enter the job market.
UniCredit Foundation has launched this first edition in these two countries because, when considering the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment that measures 15-year-olds' ability to use their reading, mathematics and science knowledge and skills to meet real-life challenges, Bulgaria and Romania are among the countries with the lowest PISA test scores in all subjects (slightly above 50% in all subjects, compared to the OECD averages of almost 80%). Romania is also among the countries with the highest share of disadvantaged children.
UniCredit Foundation is thus continuing its major commitment to tackling educational disadvantage. Added to the previous disbursement in March this year of 500,000 euros to non-profit associations in Italy, the total contribution to the cause in early 2023 alone amounts to 1 million euros.
The winning projects:
BULGARIA
- "Better math results in lower secondary schools with Khan Academy" by the Education Without Backpacks association, that aims to implement and regularly use Khan Academy in two partner schools in Bulgaria to improve the academic performance in math of fifth grade students
- "Uni Youth - Promoting Roma opportunities for excellence in education" by the Arete Youth Foundation association, that aims to support Roma students at risk of dropping out of school, through a mentoring program that includes academic assistance, career guidance, soft skills development, motivational meetings and creating links between partner schools and universities
ROMANIA
- "Growth Mindset Programs for Vulnerable Children and Youth" by the Ana and the Children association, that provides vulnerable children in Bucharest and Ilfov with the tools they need to develop as functional and integrated adults, through interventions in education, support and counseling services for parents and teachers, and the involvement of volunteers.
- "Profession - toward the vision of my future" by the Hands across Romania association, that provides training opportunities for children from vulnerable communities, linking them directly to economic agents and reducing the dropout rate by providing them with a profession and helping to fill the shortage of skilled workers in the Romanian labor market
Thank you to all the applicants, and congratulations to the winners!