Ana and the Children Association

The association works with children and families experiencing poverty, social exclusion, and limited access to quality educational opportunities. Through an integrated and community-based approach, Ana și Copiii seeks to create long-term positive change by empowering children, strengthening families, and fostering inclusive communities.

Main areas of intervention include:

• educational support and after-school programmes for vulnerable children;

• family assistance and social inclusion initiatives;

• psychological counselling and emotional wellbeing support;

• parent and teacher engagement activities;

• community development and partnership building;

• prevention of school dropout and educational exclusion.

The Growth Mindset Programs for Vulnerable Children and Youth aimed to improve educational opportunities and social inclusion for vulnerable children and young people facing multiple barriers to learning and development.

The programme addressed challenges such as educational segregation, social exclusion, poverty, and limited access to educational resources.

The initiative targeted children and young people up to the age of 19 living in Bucharest District 3, particularly in the Pallady area, as well as in communities located at the intersection of Bucharest and Ilfov counties.

Many participants faced significant educational disadvantages and were at high risk of school dropout and social exclusion.

The programme adopted a multidimensional and community-centred model, providing holistic support that combined educational, social, economic, and psychological interventions.

Activities included formal and non-formal education, individual learning support, counselling services for students, parents and teachers, and initiatives designed to encourage active participation and community engagement.

Key Results

The programme successfully reached and supported some of the most vulnerable children and families in the target communities, exceeding several of its original participation targets and generating measurable improvements in educational and social outcomes.

Quantitative results:

• 500 vulnerable children and young people participated in programme activities.

• 120 parents, 41 teachers, and 844 volunteers were actively involved in programme implementation.

• The initiative strengthened a network of 28 partner organisations and 33 institutions and companies, reinforcing community collaboration and support systems.

• The average development score of adolescent participants increased from 2.4 to 3.83 out of 5, representing an improvement of 1.43 points.

Qualitative results:

• Participants showed substantial progress in academic performance, socio-emotional development, and career-readiness skills.

• The strongest improvements were recorded among children and young people who engaged consistently with programme activities.

• The integrated approach contributed to greater educational engagement, improved self-confidence, and stronger aspirations for future education and employment.

• Active involvement of families, teachers, volunteers, and community stakeholders helped create a supportive ecosystem around vulnerable children.

• The programme demonstrated the effectiveness of combining educational support, psychosocial assistance, and community mobilisation to reduce educational disadvantage and promote social inclusion.

Overall, the Growth Mindset programme proved successful in addressing the multiple factors contributing to educational poverty and exclusion, while creating sustainable partnerships and opportunities for vulnerable children and young people to achieve their full potential.

The new phase aims to reach an additional 300 vulnerable students, providing them with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to access quality education and successfully navigate their personal, educational, and professional pathways.

The programme continues to promote equal opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people through integrated educational and social support, with the goal of empowering participants to become autonomous, responsible, and socially and professionally integrated adults.