UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund
WORLD BANK
S T U D Y P R O J E C T
Prepared by: Prof. D-r. Divna Lakinska-Popovska
T N C S D
National Centre for Training in Social Development Institute for Social Work and Social Policy Faculty of Philosophy - Skopje
Skopje, September 2000 ______2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This paper is a fruit of a long collective labour with a large group of professionals and colleagues. The primary gratitude goes to all of those who cooperated in the research. The implementation of this study was made possible through UNICEF and the funds generously provided by the World Bank. Their valuable contributions are gratefully acknowledged. The author of this report wishes to thank Ms. Elena Bogdanska (Assistant of the UNICEF's Chief of the Office) for reviewing the project step by step and guiding us with her unique advice, comments and support.
Particular thanks goes to the teaching staff of the Institute for Social Work and Social Policy for the many stimulating discussions and warm encouragement in our undertaking. Herein the author would also like to thank representatives from the state institutions, non-governmental organisations active on the territory of the municipality, the municipal architects, local ambulance, primary schools and all the other consulted parties whose expertise in research implementation and identification of the main areas of concern was found indispensable.
Finally, the author acknowledges all Roma families in the municipality of Shuto Orizari who expressed willingness and readiness to become involved in the research, and without whose cooperation this paper would not have been possible. 3
CONTENTS LIST
1. INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY 2. SUBJECT OF THE STUDY 3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 4. TARGET GROUPS 5. METHODOLOGY USED 5.1. Preparatory phase 5.2. Research implementation 5.3. Data procession
CHAPTER I VULNERABILITY OF ROMA FAMILIES
INTRODUCTION
1. DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS
2. HOUSING AND COMMUNAL CONDITIONS 2.1. The quality of the housing 2.2. Families living in a shared house 2.3. Housing space in m2 per member 2.4. Number of living quarters used by the family 2.5. Sanitary facilities 2.6. Sewerage condition 2.7. Water supply and its regularity 2.8. Quality of the streets and streetlights 2.9. Housing and communal conditions in the most endangered regions 2.10. Summary of important findings
3. HEALTH-HYGENIC CONDITIONS IN THE FAMILY 3.1. Health insurance in the family 3.2. Hygienic conditions in the families 3.3. Mortality with parents 3.4. Summary of important findings
4. EDUCATIONAL STATUS OF THE FAMILY 4.1. Educational status of parents 4.2. Educational status of children aged over 18 4.3. Children's school attendance (7-18 years) 4.4. Most common impediments for school attendance and accomplishments 4.5. Summary of important findings
5. ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE FAMILY 5.1. Occupation of the head of the family 5.2. Sources of existence 4
5.3. Incomes in the family generated by children 5.4. Average monthly financial budget of the family 5.5. Most common family expenditures 5.6. Cooking and consummation of hot meals 5.7. Summary of important findings
6. SOCIAL ENDANGEREMENT AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN THE FAMILIES 6.1. Social assistance in the family (cash benefits) 6.2. Begging in the family 6.3. Alcoholism and drug addiction in the family 6.4. Summary of important findings
7. SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT FINDINGS
8. RECOMMENDATIONS
CHAPTER II VULNERABILITY OF THE ROMA MOTHER
INTRODUCTION 1. DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS 2. THE AGE OF HAVING THE FIRST-BORN CHILD 3. HEALTH INSURANCE OF MOTHERS 4. EDUCATIONAL STATUS OF MOTHERS 5. ECONOMIC STATUS (WORKING ENGAGEMENT) 6. BREAST-FEEDING WITH MOTHERS 7. COOKING AMONG ROMA MOTHERS 8. SINGLE MOTHERS 9. MOTHERS WHO BEG 10. DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION AMONG MOTHERS 11. SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT FINDINGS 12. RECCOMENDATIONS CHAPTER III VULNERABILITY OF THE ROMA CHILDREN
INTRODUCTION
1. DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS 1.1. Children in the families in the most endangered regions (I, V and VI) 1.2. Summary of important findings
2. HOUSING-COMMUNAL CONDITIONS 2.1. Quality of the housing 2.2. Housing space per family member 2.3. Summary of important findings 2.4. Reccomendations 5
3. HEALTH AND HYGIENIC VULNERABILITY OF ROMA CHILDREN 3.1. Hygienic conditions 3.2. Bath and haircutting 3.3. Health insurance 3.4. Immunisation and vaccination 3.5. Most common diseases with children 3.6. Mortality of children 3.7. Disability 3.8. Mental disabilities with children 3.9. Summary of important findings 3.10. Recommendations
4. EDUCATIONAL STATUS 4.1. Children's attendance in pre-school institutions 4.2. Children's school attendance 4.3. Most common impediments for school attendance and accomplishments 4.4. Educational status of children over 18 years of age 4.5. Summary of important findings 4.6. Recommendations
5. BREAST-FEEDING AND NUTRITION OF CHILDREN 5.1. Breast-feeding 5.2. Consummation of cooked meal 5.3. Summary of important findings 5.4. Recommendations
6. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITY OF ROMA CHILDREN 6.1. Economic vulnerability of Roma children 6.2. Children engaged by parents 6.3. Children who beg 6.4. Delinquency and substance abuse among Roma children 6.5. Children with deceased or absent parent 6.6. Children under guardianship and foster family care 6.7. Children placed in social institutions 6.8. Summary of important findings 6.9. Recommendations
7. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMENDATIONS
APPENDICES Appendix 1. Sample questionnaire (English version) Appendix 2. Sample questionnaire (Macedonian version) Appendix 3. Additional overviews and tables Appendix 4. Map of the municipality of Shuto Orizari 6
1. INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY
After the adoption of the new Law on Local Self-government, Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia, was divided onto seven municipalities. One of them is the municipality of Shuto Orizari. This community was build up after the Skopje earthquake in 1963. According to the 1994 census on the territory of Shuto Orizari there were 16.907 inhabitants, of whom majority were Roma, as follows: 11.308 Roma, 1.698 Albanians, 1.016 Macedonians, 60 Turks, 37 Serbs and others. Shuto Orizari is the largest community inhabited by Roma people not only in the Balkans but also in Europe.
The experience from the investigations carried out so far, indicates that majority of the population is socially endangered, which causes increased liability to social problems. The 1994 census revealed only 1.549 employed persons. As we suppose, the socio-economic crisis after 1994 has already contributed to the rise in the number of unemployed persons.
From the data accessible at the community level we may conclude that population is extremely uneducated. During the census in 1994, 3.956 adult illiterate persons were evidenced. Low educational level of the adults presents important obstacle that makes it impossible for them to register in the Employment Bureau for effectuation of their basic rights.
Furthermore, we have also received information that despite the presence of two primary schools on the territory of the municipality, there are significant retractions from the schools and lack of motivation and conditions to enroll secondary schools and higher educational institutions.
On the other hand, contrary to the presented situation, for a longer period of time (8-10 years) on the territory of Shuto Orizari many projects and programmes for betterment of the quality of live, health protection, support to education of the population are being implemented by non- governmental humanitarian organisations and municipal authorities (UNICEF, CARITAS, SOROS). Still and all, up to today no systematic sondage study, which will make detailed diagnosis of these conditions, has been conducted.
In the course of study preparation we had been making consultations with certain relevant factors in the municipality, the municipal architect, representatives from primary schools and the local ambulance, as well as with the representatives from non-governmental associations active on this territory.
We had also become familiarised with the contents of the projects and programmes being so far organised or are in the course of realisation, and consulted representatives from the state institutions and foundations that had already had experience in researches of this type. We have obtained support for implementation of this survey from all consulted parties, as well as from 7 the foundations which within their programmes plan future financial assistance to projects and programmes for the Roma population.
The research was planed, organised and carried out by Prof. D-r. Divna Lakinska-Popovska from the National Centre for Training in Social Development and postgraduate students from the Institute for Social Work and Social Policy - Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje. Further, in the research, representatives from the municipality of Shuto Orizari and non-governmental associations, which professionally and voluntarily are active on the territory of the municipality, were also engaged. Throught all the research stages the National Centre for Training in Social Development was in constant collaboration with the Assistant of the Chief of the UNICEF's Office in Skopje Ms. Elena Bogdanska, who has devotedly provided support to the implementation of this Project.
List of state officials and representatives of non-governmental organisations engaged in survey implementation
Institutions and organisations Persons engaged 1. Faculty of Philosophy 10 2. Mayor's office 1 3. Centre for Social Initiatives "Hope" 2 4. Caritas Essen 1 5. Youth Centre 7 6. Macedonian Caritas 1 TOTAL: 22
The above brought ups were the basis and the motive to commence research study in mid 1999, initiated by UNICEF and financed by the World Bank, with a purpose of studying the living conditions and the quality of life in general of Roma children.
2. SUBJECT OF THE STUDY
The study presents an attempt for comprehensive and thorough insight into the five basic segment of the life in this municipality, to obtain information and knowledge about conditions and needs of Roma families, first of all of the Roma mother and her children. The five basic segments are as follows: · Quality of the housing and communal conditions; · Health and hygienic conditions; · Educational status and educational problems; · Economic conditions; · Social endangerment and social problems.
Each segment contains several indicators that provide for the depthness and quality of the study. 8
3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The assessment of the conditions and needs will direct us towards main priorities which are to be addressed from the aspect of support and assistance through actions, campaigns, projects and programmes, and also to contribute to dealing with objective necessities of the population and in objectively accessible ways for the population in the focus of our interest.
4. TARGET GROUPS
Although the main objective was in depth study of the vulnerability of Roma children, in order to be able to comprehensively present their living conditions, it was necessary to involve 3 target groups: Roma family, Roma mother and Roma children. Since these 3 target groups are directly interrelated, we would like to point out that overlaps in the analysis of each of the target groups separately are likely to turn out.
5. METHODOLOGY USED
For the purposes of this study, the surveyors used standard approach of covering all families living on the territory of Shuto Orizari from the Roma ethnic group, present at the moment of surveying in the period from June - July 1999.
The research was organised in three phases: preparatory phase, field work and data procession.
5.1. Preparatory phase
The preparatory phase was dedicated to the design of the questionnaire to be used in the research. The aim was not to come up with too extended questionnaire, but a questionnaire, which, although shortened, will still contain all core questions relevant to the subject of the research. The questionnaire was comprised of 41 questions grouped into VI subgroups: I. General data; II. Quality of the housing and communal conditions; III. Health insurance and health conditions; IV. Educational status and school attendance with pupils; V. Economic status; VI. Social status and social problems. * See Appendix 1. Sample questionnaire (English version) attached
The questionnaire was developed on the basis of analysis of the population at field, but at the same time it was in great deal based on printed materials and papers, so as consultations with experts and professionals from each of the domains involved, who had already had experience and knowledge in researches made for this category of people. Also, the questionnaire was 9 preliminary tested on small sample of people. This phase was also used to prepare blank tables where data would be inserted which simultaneously served to examine the interrelations between the proposed variables to be studied.
In parallel with the preparation of the questionnaire the activities regarding identification of surveyors were under way. Most of them were professionals (mainly social workers) who work or live on the territory of Shuto Orizari, almost half of whom were Roma. Although the surveyors were experienced, in possession of professional skills and were familiar with the situation at field, they attended a short training seminar when they were introduced the research methodology. Moreover, a group of 5 controllers (assistants and post-graduate students from the Institute for Social Work and Social Policy) took part in the course. These were responsible for the everyday collaboration with the surveyors, providing guidance in filling in the questionnaires, making check ups of the filled in questionnaires in order for all possible misunderstandings and mistakes to be excluded and questionnaires prepared for data procession.
In order to facilitate the survey implementation and the actual data collection, the municipality of Shuto Orizari was divided into 6 separate regions using the map of the municipality. Each of the surveyors was engaged in survey implementation in a specified region, with specified streets and number of houses.
5.2. Research implementation
The second phase of the research was its operationalisation or implementation in 30 days duration (15th of June - 15th of July). The research covered 3.122 families. Each of the surveyors was in advance given guidance to question heads of all Roma families in the forehead-determined regions and streets.
Division of the regions in Shuto Orizari Location/region Streets I Between: Gvadalahara, Nov Zivot Shuto Orizari II between: Nov Zivot, Shuto Orizari and Butelski Venec III Between: Shuto Orizari, Butelski Venec, Brsjachka Buna, Ovchepolska and Vietnamska IV Between: Vietnamska, Ovchepolska, Brsjacka Buna and Pelagonija V Between: Nov Zivot, Brsjachka buna, Gvadalahara, Shuto Orizari VI Between: Gvadalahara, Brsjachka buna, Garsija Lorka and Shuto Orizari * See Appendix 4. Map of the municipality of Shuto Orizari attached. 10
The coordinator of the research was also present at field with the purpose of providing support in cases of need. The surveyors, in average, managed to fill in 8-10 questionnaires per day, considering that it was mid summer, the weather was hot and sultry, and certainly was not predisposed for extensive and long-term researches of this type.
5.3. Data procession
The data obtained about the three target groups, for each of them separately, were inserted into tables and overviews, in numbers and percents. By reason of the possibility to perceive mutual relations of the studied indicator or phenomenon, we found it important to present the data in percents. On the other hand, data presented in real numbers give realistic conditions, which provides for the opportunity to plan activities or implement appropriate measures.
Data which refer to the third target group "Roma children" are additionally presented in graphs (provides better caching sight of the characteristics) and comments with precise computer statistical procession using c2 test, contingency coefficient and T values.
The period of data procession took 40 days, since data from questionnaires (3.400) were manually inserted into the standings (22) and tables (39). The further phase of procession of the tables in percents (39), graphs (27) and c2 tests was computer procession of the main tables separately. This phase also took 40 days.
The complete research, starting from the preparatory period up to the preparation of the report, lasted 7 months (from the end of June until the end of December 1999). 11
VULNERABILITY OF ROMA FAMILIES
INTRODUCTION
The Roma family, apart from its century-old existence in Macedonia, still keeps its specific characteristics. In this Chapter the intention is to present brief overview of the main characteristics of the Roma families which are in a way specific for the Roma population. The main indicators which were chosen as a basis in the study of Roma families are the following ones: 1. Demographic indicators; 2. Housing and communal conditions; 3. Health-hygienic conditions; 4. Educational status; 5. Economic conditions; 6. Nutrition; 7. Social endangerment and social problems.
1. DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS
The municipality of Shuto Orizari is inhabited by around 3.122 Roma families or 13.974 inhabitants. The research carried out in the period from 15th of June 1999 to 15th of July 1999 covers all families approachable to the surveyors. There are 7.038 adult family members and 6.936 children, which indicates that the number of adults and the number of children in the families are approximately equal, with an unessential growth in behalf of the adult family members. Of the latter there are 2.975 mothers, 2.768 fathers, 736 grandmothers and 559 grandfathers. The number of mothers compared with the number of fathers is slightly higher, which in a way is reflection of the number of families of single mothers. The research also provided data about parents age, since the aim was to test the information that Romas enter into marriage at early age and thus become parents. It was found out that at the age between 12-18 there are 15 fathers and 75 mothers, while the most present age of the parents is the one over 35 years (1.320 fathers and 1.206 mothers). Close to this numerical state is the number of parents aged 25-35 (1.058 fathers and 1.129 mothers). Owing to the fact that the category of parents aged over 35 includes longer period of the lifetime, it may be concluded that the most present age of parents is the one between 25 and 35 years of age (this involves 10-year period). The number of parents aged 19-24 is 940 parents, or 375 fathers and 565 mothers, which is on its own quite an important represent for this population. 12
As regards number of children in the Roma family the already established assumption that Roma families have more children was not confirmed. The research showed that 2.085 families or 66,78% are families with only one to two children, while 898 families or 28,76% are families with 3-4 children. Only 139 families or 4,45% are families with 5 or more than 5 children. We suppose that the implementation of numerous Family Planning Programmes in Shuto Orizari have influenced the declining birth rate among this population. Furthermore, a fact, which in this respect must not be disregarded, is the limitation of the right to social child supplements for families with more than 3 children. Still, the number of parents aged up to 25 years (1.030 or 20%) indicates that there is still possibility for the spouses of this age category of having more children. Same applies to the category of parents aged up to 35 years (3.217 or 56%).
FOTOGRAFIJA 1
In the families the research shows presence of 6.936 children of whom greatest part are children aged 7-14 (1.353 male or 19,51% and 1.279 female or 18,44%). Within the age group from 15- 18 years of age, there are 601 male children and 542 female children, that is 8,66% and 7,81%. 680 male children are aged 0-3 years or 9,80% and 7,89% (547) are female children, meaning that this number may still rise.
2. HOUSING AND COMMUNAL CONDITIONS
Important cause of the socio-economic vulnerability of Roma families are housing and communal living conditions. These were studied through the following indicators: Ø Quality of the housing; Ø Families living in a same house; Ø Housing space in m2 per member; 13
Ø Number of living quarters used by the family; Ø Sanitary facilities in the house; Ø Sewerage condition; Ø Quality of the streets and streetlights;
Each of the indicators is composed of three proposed options that serve to precise the corresponding housing and communal conditions. Within the framework of studying socio- economic vulnerability, the number of families living in a shared house is also incorporated, which in our assumption will indicate the largeness of the extended family and the living conditions of the family members.
2.1. The quality of the housing
The quality of the housing is studied through three subcategories, as follows: improvised house, dilapidated or montage house and solid construction house. The improvised houses are houses built from non-building materials (cartoon, nylon, tin, plastics and so on). There are 165 (5.29%) such houses in this municipality. People living in these houses are at the same time in the most endangered position. This number, although not so high, is an alarm that 165 families live in utterly bad housing conditions, exposed to cold, snow and rain (to all weather storms), lacking indispensable household furniture. Their children living in such circumstances have no elementary conditions for normal growth and development.
Overview 1. Quality of the housing
Quality of the housing Improvised house Dilapidated and montage house Solid construction house Total 165 (5.29%) 693 (22,20%) 2.264 (72,52%) 3.122 (100%)
Graph 1. Quality of the housing
5.29 improvised 22.2 house dilapidated and montage house house of solid 72.52 construction 14
Dilapidated and montage houses are such houses made of montage construction elements (tin barracks build up after the Skopje earthquake in 1963, montage elements with limited lastingness and houses build up from non-burned bricks). There are 693 (22,20%) such houses, which is also an indicator of the extremely endangered living conditions.
The sum of the two above indicators of the endangered housing conditions shows that 858 houses or 27,49% of the families live in inconvenient houses, below all levels of normal existence. The research shows that about one third of the people in the municipality of Shuto Orizari lives in inconvenient houses.
The distinguished number of families - 2.264 families (72,52%) - live in houses constructed of solid materials - bricks and mortar. Most of these houses are built after the Skopje 1963 earthquake, when there were possibilities provided to citizens for construction loans under favorable conditions.
2.2. Families living in a shared house
Houses in which Roma families live in most cases are not that big, but besides that, more than half of the families share the house together with one or two more families (there are 899 cases of two families living under same roof or 28,80%; 759 cases of three and more families living under same roof or 24,31%; all together 53,11% of the families live under same roof with two or more families).
FOTOGRAFIJA 2 15
Overview 2. Families according to living in a shared house
Number of families according to living in a same house Three and more Two One Total 759 (24,31%) 899 (28,80%) 1.464 (46,89%) 3.122 (100%)
Graph 2. Families according to living in a shared house
24.31 46.89 three and over two one 28.8
In addition, 1.464 (46,89%) families are the only owners of the houses they live in, although in most cases their houses are small-sized and dilapidated.
FOTOGRAFIJA 3 16
2.3. Housing space in m2 per member
Substantial indicator of the housing and communal living conditions is not only the quality of the housing, but also the dimension of the housing space used by the family. In our study 3 sub- indicators were questioned: from 2-5 m2 per member (which is condition below all acceptable minimal standards of living conditions); 6-10 m2 per member (indicator of decent living conditions) and 6-10 m2 per member as an indicator of well-suited living conditions, all according to the dimension of the housing space. While determining the housing space not only bedrooms were taken into account, but also the average of the total housing space used by the family which involves the daily residence (living room, kitchen, bathroom and toilet). The data witness that the greatest number of families 1.291 or 41,35% live in 2-5m2 in average per member. If we take into account that this housing space is mostly used by the families living in improvised houses or in dilapidated and montage houses, we may conclude that Roma families live not only in low-quality houses but are also forced to live in tight housing space.
Overview 3. Housing space in m2 per member
Housing space in m2 per member from 2-5 m2 6-10 m2 Over 11m2 Total 1.291 (41,35%) 1.245 (39,88%) 586 (18,77%) 3.122 (100%)
Graph 3. Housing space in m2 per member
18.77 41.35 from 2-5 m2 6-10 m2 over 11m2 39.88
It should be also pointed out that almost same number of families 1.245 live in quarters with sufficient squaring i.e. from 6-10 m2 per member. If the average Roma family has 6-10 members, than we suppose that they live in houses of 36-60 m2 or 60-100 m2. As regards large house squaring they are in first place typical for the vast houses build up by Romas who had spent more than 20 years working abroad in the Western-European countries. 17
2.4. Number of living quarters used by the family
Despite of living mainly in small houses, Roma families use only a small number of living quarters in which in average 6-member families live. Although living quarters involve not only the bedrooms but also the whole daily residence (kitchen, living room and bedroom), for the great part of the families the kitchen so as the living room are used at the same time as bedrooms for the family members.
Overview 4. Number of living quarters used by the family
Number of living quarters used by the family One shared Two quarters Three or more Total 596 (19,09%) 1.305 (41,80%) 1.221 (39,11%) 3.122 (100%)
FOTOGRAFIJA 4 18
Graph4. Number of living quarters used by the family
one shared 19.09 promise 39.11 two premises
41.8 three and over
The majority of families uses only two living quarters, which particularly in the winter period, as well as in late autumn and early spring, are not convenient and are being used both for daily sojourn and sleeping. This condition is worsened by the lack of sufficient and appropriate hitting and firing, which in return implicates air pollution. The smoking habit present with many of the adults is just an additional polluter of the quarters, which affects the health of the children living in them.
The above conditions are reasons why 19,09% or 596 families are compelled to live in only one quarter, which is a sign of living conditions below every criteria of decency. This especially endangers child's health and leads towards regression in the child's development, emergence of diseases, so as social aberrations (children are witnesses of the intimate life of their parents) and so on.
2.5. Sanitary facilities
The quality of the sanitary facilities used by the family members represents important indicator of the quality of the living conditions of Romas. The research used three sub-indicators: toilet in the yard, toilet in the house and toilet with bathroom in the house.
Overview 5. Sanitary facilities in the house
Sanitary facilities in the house Toilet in the yard Toilet in the house Toilet with bathroom in the house Total 1.497 (47,95%) 224 (7,17%) 1.401 (44,88%) 3.122 (100%) 19
Graph 5. Sanitary facilities in the house
toilet in the yard
44.88 47.95 toilet in the house
7.17 toilet with bathroom in the house
The greatest number of the Roma families use toiled in the yard, of which 455 families or 14,58% have no hygienic protection or use septic tanks. Bearing in mind that inappropriate sanitary facility is in most cases potential source of contagious diseases (especially in the summer period), we may draw a conclusion that at present there is significant number of possible pivots of contagious diseases on the territory of the municipality.
Accompanying to the above, only 44,88% of the families have bathrooms and may decently meet hygienic needs, while more than half of the families (55,12%) live in lack of possibility to wash and have bath in their own homes. Knowing that 6 months in a year (late autumn, winter and early spring) the temperature in Skopje is under 15oC, imposes conclusion that in 55,12% of the families their members are only in position to take bath rarely, which is also a possible condition for emergence of contagious diseases and epidemics.
FOTOGRAFIJA 5 20
2.6. Sewerage condition
In the municipality of Shuto Orizari the local population (85,43% of the families) uses the facility of public sewerage system, while only 4,39% of the families use septic tanks.
Overview 6. Sewerage condition
Sewerage condition None Septic tank Public Total 318 (10,19%) 137 (4,39%) 2.667 (85,43%) 3.122 (100%)
Graph6. Sewerage condition
10.19 4.39 none septic tank public 85.43
Still, an indicator which concerns is that 318 families (10,19%) neither use septic tanks nor are connected to the public sewerage system. This situation places these families at risk, first of all their children who are exposed to infections and contagious diseases. Therefore it would be important to emphasize the need for geographic widening of the municipality so as the matching need to establish public sewerage system on the whole territory of the municipality.
FOTOGRAFIJA 6 21
2.7. Water supply and its regularity
Water supply in Shuto Orizari refers to: using running water by tap in the house, tap in the yard or from others (from the communal taps or neighboring houses). The greatest number of families has access to running water in the homes 1.799 (57,62%), although the number of families lacking water supply facility in their homes (1.323 or 42,38%) or using yard taps or communal taps must not be disregarded. In the winter period, owing to the below 0oC temperatures, in 42,38% of the families taps often get frozen, crack under the ice pressure and thus can not be used. Even worse, in this period of the year, if any member of the family needs to use water either for drinking, washing out, taking a bath or elsewhat, he/she is unavoidably exposed to the cold weather outside.
Overview 7. Water supply
Water supply Uses running water Running water in the Running water in the Total from other places yard house 89 (2,85%) 1.234 (39,53%) 1.799 (57,62%) 3.122 (100%)
Graph 7. Water supply
kousesri sfromti od other drugo 2.85 mplaceesto 39.53 running water 57.62 in the yard running water in the house
As regards the water supply regularity it is not intruded remarkably, but when it is, its adverse effects are especially felt in the summer period. Namely, 2.583 families or 82,74% of the families use water regularly, while only 490 families (15,70%) are provided irregular water supply, while in 49 families (1,57%) the water supply regularity is completely interrupted. Having in mind that the water is the basic existential need for every human being, the fact that it is not at hand in 1,57% of the families is an indicator to worry about. For the members of about 50 families the water is beyond their reach, which means that not only meeting hygienic needs at one elementary level is at stake, but also such condition makes preparation of food difficult, if not impossible. 22
FOTOGRAFIJA 7
2.8. Quality of the streets and streetlights
Many of the streets in Shuto Orizari are urbanised (85,43%), although there is no final urban plan for majority of them. Namely, in 33,76% of the families houses directly exit paved streets, while 51,67% of the families exit only partly paved streets.
Overview 8. Quality of the streets
Quality of the streets Not paved Partly paved Paved Total 455 (14,57%) 1.613 (51,67%) 1.054 (33,76%) 3.122 (100%) 23
Graph8. Quality of the streets
14.57 33.76 not paved partly paved paved 51.67
The condition is much worse with the streetlights. Only 37,03% of the families have streetlights in front of their homes; while approximately same percentage families have no streetlights.
Overview 9. Streetlights
Streetlights No streetlights Rarely lined up lights Lightened Total 1.115 (35,71%) 851 (27,26%) 1.156 (37,03%) 3.122 (100%)
Graph9. Streetlights
37.03 35.71 no streetlights rarely lined up lines lightened 27.26
This situation of dark streets in the municipality of Shuto Orizari due to the unsolved problem of streetlights may be a result of the economic crisis, but may also be a result of the fact that the already broken lights are not being replaced on time. In any case, night walks for majority of the population in the municipality still mean exposure to variety of risks. 24
2.9. Housing and communal conditions in the most endangered regions
Housing and communal conditions of the Romas living in Shuto Orizari may be in general characterised as unfavorable. Therewith, efforts should be invested to improve these conditions, at least in the most endangered regions. To that end, we found important to divide the municipality into separate communal regions. This is to show what each of the regions falls short of. For the purpose of our research the territory of Shuto Orizari was divided into 6 regions based on the prevailing types of housing, socio-economic living conditions and population density.
The main street "Shuto Orizari" divides the municipality of Shuto Orizari into two huge halves. Each of them is divided into 3 separate regions. We shall draw our attention to the three most endangered regions, regions 1, 5 and 6 situated at the outskirts of the municipality.
The region 1 covers the territory between the streets Gvadalahara, Nov Zivot and Shuto Orizari. There are 689 families (22,07%) living in this region. In separate houses, according to the number of families living in share house, live 56,75% of the families, which means that most of the houses are small (44,99% of the families use below 5 m2 per member, 43,83% of the families use from 6-10m2 per member). Of them, 47,90% live in only two living quarters, while 20,90% live in only one quarter. 50,22% use toilet in the yard and have no bathroom. 38,46% use running water from yard taps, while 3,92% of the families use running water from other places. This means that 42,38% of the families in this region have no accessible sanitary facility in their homes. Most of the streets in this region are in poor condition i.e. 44,99% of the families exit streets which are only partly paved or not paved (6,97%). The condition with streetlights is even more troubling. In 45,57% of the families there are no streetlights, in 12,34% there are rarely lined up lights, or in other words, 57,91% of the families in this region are forced to move and walk in dark streets. This condition places strains for the family members to come back home later in the night, while for youth with anti-social behavior such streets are convenient gathering places.
The region 5 covers the territory between the streets: Nov Zivot, Brsjacka Buna, Gvadalahara and Shuto Orizari. This region is most endangered and inhabited by 630 families or 20,18% of the total population of the municipality. The majority of families living in improvised houses live in this region exactly (10,95% or 69 families); 23,33% of the families live in dilapidated or montage hangers older than 30 years (147 families). Housing space used by the families is also limited; 38,25% of the families use housing space below 5m2 per member, while 40,63% of the families (256) use 6-10m2 per member. Of them 25,71% (162) families share their houses with three or more families (mainly hangars), while 25,23% (159) families live under same roof with another family. 26,35% (166) families live in only one living quarter, while 40,79% (257) families use only two quarters.
The condition concerning sanitary facility in the house is also devastating, since 61,75% (389) families have toilet in their yards, of them 17,62% or 111 families have toilets with no septic 25 tanks. Of all families more than half use running water from taps in the yard (52,70%) or 332, or from other places 4,44% (28 families). The streets in this region are also in extremely bad condition. Namely, 35,87% (226) families exit not paved streets, while 56,51% (356) of them exit only partly paved streets or streets which had previously been paved but under the burden of time has become damaged. This part of the municipality Shuto Orizari is completely unlighted; 66,35% (418) families have no streetlights, while 30,47% (192) have rarely lined up lights in the streets they exit.
The region 6 is situated at the end of the municipality and encompasses the territory between the streets: Nov Zivot, Brsjachka Buna, Garsija Lorka and Shuto Orizari. 318 families live on the territory of this region. At the entry point of this region there are houses made of solid construction materials, but despite of that great number of the families live in improvised houses 5,35% (17), while 22,64% (72) live in dilapidated or montage houses.
Not only that these families live in small houses inconvenient for life, but they also use limited number of living quarters. For example, 28,93% (92) families live in only one quarter, while more than half of the families 51,26% (163) lives and uses only two quarters. The condition regarding housing space is also worrying; 40,57% (129) families use below 5m2 per member, while 37,42% (119) families from 6-10m2 per member. Since 45,91% of the families live in separate houses we may conclude that in spite of that their houses are small-sized (one or two living quarters at most) in which in average more than 5 family members live.
In close connection with this are the sanitary facility conditions, which are more than imperiled. This is because about half of the families in this region use toilet in their yards 47,80% (152) and at the same time use running water from their yard taps 34,90% (111). On the top of this, 5 families have no tap in their yards (1,57%) which indicates that such conditions in great deal make it more difficult to maintain personal hygiene and the hygiene in the house. As addition to the irrefutable fact that it is not convenient to use yard taps for family needs, half of the families are provided irregular water supply 49,37% (157 families). This especially affects children living in such bad conditions, exposed to risks of contagious and other diseases.
The quality of the streets is also very poor; 62,89% (200) families exit partly paved streets, 25,47% (81) live in houses exiting not paved streets, which particularly in autumn, winter and spring periods are being filled with mud, which even more jeopardises the personal and housing hygiene, but at first place that of the children.
The condition regarding streetlights does not differ much. 56,92% (181) families have no streetlights, while 41,19% (131) have only rarely lined up lights in the streets.
The three most endangered regions in the municipality of Shuto Orizari are situated at the outskirts of the municipality, which provides for the possibility for this part of the municipality to continue spreading, especially with Roma refugees. Therefore, what is needed is undertaking urgent measures for overcoming outermost poverty of the living conditions in this region. 26
2.10. Summary of important findings
1. Demographic indicators è 3.122 Roma families with approximately 13.974 inhabitants; è 7.038 adult family members; è 6.936 children; è 66.78% are families with one or two children; è 28.76 are families with 3-4 children; è 20.00% of the parents are at the age of 25 (opened possibility of having more children). 2. Quality of the housing è 165 families live in houses made of non-building material (nylon, carton, tin and plastics); è 693 families live in houses with limited lasting. 3. Families living in a same house è 53,11% of the families lives under same roof with two or more families. 4. Housing space in m2 per member è 41,35% (1.291) families live in 2-5m2 in average per member. 5. Number of living quarters used by the family è Majority of the families uses only two quarters; è 596 families (19,09%) live in only one quarter. 6. Sanitary facilities è 55,12% of the families live in lack of possibility to wash and have bath in the house; è 455 families (14,58%) use toilet in the yard. 7. Sewerage condition è 85,43% of the families uses the facilities of public sewerage system; è 10,19% (318 families) neither use septic tanks nor are connected to the public sewerage system. 8. Water supply è 57,62% use water in their houses; è 42,38% use yard taps or street taps è in 49 families the water supply is completely interrupted. 9. Quality of the streets and streetlights è 51,67% of the families exits only partly paved streets; è 35,71% of the families have no streetlights. 10. The most endangered regions è 1 (between the streets Gvadalahara, Nov Zivot and Shuto Orizari); è 5 (between the streets Nov Zivot, Brsjachka Buna, Gvadalahara and Shuto Orizari); è 6 (between the streets Nov Zivot, Brsjachka Buna, Garsija Lorka and Shuto Orizari). 27
3. HEALTH - HYGIENIC CONDITIONS IN THE FAMILY
Unsatisfactory housing - communal living conditions of the families most commonly influence and add to the low level of hygienic conditions, which represents a main factor for the disturbed health of the population, at first place that of the children. This part of the first Chapter encompasses the following indicators: Ø Health insurance in the family; Ø Mortality with parents; Ø Hygienic conditions in the families.
3.1. Health insurance in the family
Hazardous hygienic conditions affect common disturbances of the population health and presence of contagious diseases. This condition is being even more deteriorated when family members are not health insured and have to then pay for the health examinations and medicaments. Health insured family is considered as family in which all members have medical booklets and enjoy medical rights on this basis; partially insured family is one in which some of the family members are and some are not in possession of medical booklets; while in situations when no family member is in possession of medical booklet that family is considered to be uninsured family.
The data obtained allow us to conclude that considerable number of the families are health insured 77,55% (2.241), partly insured families (only some members of the family - predominantly children and elders) are 4,07% (127) families, while 18,39% (574) families are not health insured, which means that the only way out for them is to pay for the examinations and medicaments in cases of medical problems. There are many reasons for this: education, unemployment, housing conditions so as the fact that part of the population in the municipality has no Macedonian citizenship and thus children and elders are not entitled to the right to health insurance. Parents who have no citizenship are not in position to pay 250$ (500 DM) per an adult family member for issuing it. On the other hand, the reason for not having citizenship is sometimes their inability to go to their places of birth to issue birth certificates; sometimes their birth is not registered at all, with part of the population they haven't been residents of the Republic of Macedonia for 15 years in order to be able to claim the right to citizenship and so on. Frequent reason is also lack of document for completed primary education, without which parents can not register in the Employment Bureau and thus effectuate the right to health insurance. 28
Overview 10. Health insurance in the family
Health insurance in the family Yes No Partial Total 2.421 (77,55%) 574 (18,39%) 127 (4,07%) 3.122 (100%) Graph 10. Health insurance in the family
4.07 18.39 yes no partial 77.55
Still, 22,46% (701) families are not in position to provide for adequate medical treatment, which prominently jeopardises not only individual but also community health, bearing in mind the fact that those already suffering a disease are potential source for spreading it out throughout the community.*
The destitute hygienic living conditions and inability of the notable number of persons to be adequately medically treated, contributes not only to the increased number of patients and increased frequency of contagious diseases, but also to cases when such medical conditions yield lethal consequences.
3.2. Hygienic conditions in the families
The hygienic conditions in the families, divided into three levels: poor, insufficient and satisfying, were also studied through the questionnaire used. The criteria used to assess the hygienic conditions was the caught hygiene in the house at the moment of conducting the survey (situations when the house has obviously not been cleaned for a longer period and the family does not use hygienic supplies; situations when there are elementary hygienic conditions in the house - when hygienic supplies and cleansers are accessible; and situations when there is obvious evidence of the clean house with running water in the house at reach, so as usage of hygienic supplies).
* In the municipality of Shuto Orizari there is Pharmacy owned by Caritas, which assists in providing medicines for the uninsured population. 29
The research revealed that the majority of families live in satisfying hygienic conditions 58,23% (1.818), although still considerable number of families live in insufficient hygienic conditions 22,42% (700) and poor hygienic conditions 19,35% (604). It should be mentioned that the surveyors often faced difficulties in assessing the quality of the hygienic conditions when it comes to distinguishing poor and insufficient conditions. This justifies our believe that these first two indicators should be joined into one. The latter shows that 41,77% of the families (1.504) live in hazard conditions. This is due to falling short of running water, deficiency of hygienic supplies, but also due to the insufficient consciousness of the family about the importance of maintaining hygiene.
FOTOGRAFIJA 8
Overview 11. Hygienic conditions in the family
Hygienic conditions in the family Poor Insufficient Satisfying Total 604 (19,35%) 700 (22,42%) 1.818 (58,23%) 3.122 (100%) 30
Graph 11. Hygienic conditions in the family
poor hygenic 19.35 conditions insufficient hygenic conditions 58.23 22.42 satisfying hygenic conditions
3.3. Mortality with parents
The research provided for data that 3,08% (214) families are families with only one parent because of the death of the other. Of this number majority are fathers 2,16% (150 deceased fathers and 64 deceased mothers) which additionally worsens the conditions since it is well known that fathers are most commonly bread-winners who provide family's subsistence. Some of the children without parents are placed in foster families in the town of Skopje or in the social institutions out of Shuto Orizari.
3.4. Summary of important findings
1. Health insurance in the family è 77,55% (2.241) families are health insured; è 18,39% (574) families are not health insured.
2. Hygienic conditions in the families è 41,77% (1.504) families live in bad hygienic conditions.
3. Mortality with parents è 3,08% (214) families are families with only one parent; è 150 fathers are deceased; è 64 mothers are deceased. 31
4. EDUCATIONAL STATUS OF THE FAMILY
Education is also important segment that influences living conditions of the inhabitants of Shuto Orizari. Education is often an obstacle not only in the process of providing existential means, but also in effectuation of the rights stipulated in the Law on Social Protection, Labour Relations Law and Health Protection Law.
The state in the field of education in this municipality is worsened by the settled custom of Roma female children to enter into marriage at early age (thus quitting their education) or on the other hand, having no possibilities nor willingness to enter the regular educational system which, year by year, places more and more restrictive criteria regarding school entrance.
This subchapter contains data about: Ø Educational status of parents; Ø Education of children aged over 18 Ø Children's school attendance (7-18 years) and Ø Most common impediments for school attendance and accomplishments.
Since the above topics are important both for mothers and children they will be also presented in the following Chapters 2 and 3 in order to provide for their better illustration.
4.1. Educational status of parents
Educational status was studied with mothers and fathers separately, using the following indicators: illiterate, uncompleted primary school, primary school, uncompleted secondary school, secondary school and high education. The first two indicators were used in order to be able to assess the level of illiteracy among parents.
Research results show that, in average, fathers have almost always higher education than mothers. This can be supported by the attitude of the local population that female children should not educate themselves, but stay in the family as housewives. Also, if one family lacks economic conditions to provide education for all of its children, the priority in education is almost always given to the male children.
Overview 12. Educational status of mothers Educational status of mothers Illiterate Uncompleted Primary Uncompleted Secondary High education Total primary school secondary school school school 841 (28,27%) 813 (27,33%) 1.103 (37,08%) 34 (1,14%) 181 (6,08%) 3 (0,10%) 2.975 (100%) 32
The research disclosed that fathers have higher educational level than mothers, or majority of them 49,96% (1.383 fathers) have certificates for completed elementary education, compared with mothers with only 37,08% (1103 mothers) who have obtained certificates. Considerable number of mothers are illiterate 28,27% (841), while 27,33% (813) mothers have not completed primary education. Drawing distinction with the fathers in this respect, only 7,37% (204) fathers are illiterate and 16,08% (445) have not completed primary education. This condition unavoidably imposes the urgent need to come up to organisation and including this population group with primary education for adults. All of this will for sure contribute, on one hand, to raising educational level, and on the other hand, to creating conditions for effectuation of extensive number of legal rights. Perhaps it will most significantly contribute to the creation of positive attitude towards education in respect of passing influences to their children.
Overview 13. Educational status of fathers Educational status of fathers Illiterate Uncompleted Primary Uncomplete Secondary High education Total primary school d secondary school school school 204 (7,37%) 445 (16,08%) 1.383 (49,96%) 65 (2,35%) 664 (23,99%) 7 (0,25%) 2.768 (100%)
4.2. Educational status of children aged over 18
Children aged over 18 also show unsatisfactory results in formal education. The table below explicates that 7,71% male children and 4,56% female children are illiterate, in total 12,27% or 113 children; while 11,51% male and 10,53% female children have not completed primary education or in total 203 children. The sum of the number of children from both categories witnesses that 316 children are without primary education. This is again a sign of the urgent need to engage these children in primary education for adults. Having in mind that this is a number which must not be ignored (one primary school, as comparison, has in average 300-350 pupils), it is reasonable that primary education for youths in this municipality can not be organised only by using municipal capacities, but it should be made priority task of the governmental educational structures (institutions and services) as well as of the Foundations (UNICEF, UNESCO, Public Universities).
Overview 14. Educational status of children aged over 18
Educational status of children aged over 18 Illiterate Uncompleted Primary Uncompleted Secondary High education Total primary school secondary school school school M F M F M F M F M F M F M F 71 42 106 97 308 156 7 7 81 44 2 0 575 346 (7,71) (4,56) (11,51) (10,53) (33,44) (16,94) (0,76) (0,76) (8,79) (4,78) (0,22) (0,00) (62,43) (37,57) 33
In the municipality of Shuto Orizari, besides the presence of two primary school, there is a primary school for adults "Makarenko". Based on the pointed out state in view of the educational level of children aged over 18, this institution should invest intensified efforts to somehow involve this category of young adults into the educational process.
4.3. Children's school attendance (7-18 years)
In comparison with the adult members of the families, children at school age attest higher school attendance. 66,57% of the total number of children at school age (2.513 children) regularly attend school. Of them 36,13% are male and 30,44% are female pupils. Only 2,41% of the pupils or 91 pupil attend school occasionally. The percentage of pupils who do not attend school is also considerable - 31,02% or 1.171 pupil. Of them 12,16% (459) are children up to 14 years of age who should, by all means, attend and complete primary school. This number is also important indicator of the vulnerability of Roma children in respect of their regular attendance of educational institutions.
Overview 15. Children's school attendance Children's school attendance Regularly Occasionally Do not attend Total M F M F M F 1.364 1.149 52 39 539 632 3.775 (36,13%) (30,44%) (1,38%) (1,03%) (14,28%) (16,74%) (100%)
Data verify that female children are particularly vulnerable in terms of education. 281 female pupils aged 7-14 either attends school irregularly or do not attend school at all. This indicator is a proof more that there is an urgent need to organise some form of consultative work with the pupils' parents, in parallel with the social - educational activities with the pupils attending the Youth Centre which operates on the territory of the municipality.
4.4. Most common impediments for school attendance and accomplishments
With reference to the indicators of the most common impediments for school accomplishments there was an assumption that their roots lay down in the conditions inside the families. Those are as follows: poverty, prohibition by parents to attend school, children being engaged in working activities by their parents, lack of self-control and control on the part of the parents. Believing that above-mentioned indicators are not exhaustive reasons, the possibility of other reasons was added into the list of options. Most present impediment for school accomplishments turned out to be the poverty, present as reason with 362 male and 350 female pupils. The prohibition to attend school by parents was revealed in 17 male and 45 female pupils, while 61 female and 31 male pupil betoke to be engaged by their parents. Also, 238 male and 221 female pupils were not controlled by their parents or were lacking support and encouragement to attend school. The 34 above indicators draw our attention back to the unavoidable need to enter into organisation of socio-educational work with pupils, and even more important with their parents.
Overview 16. Most common impediments for school attendance and accomplishments Impediments for school attendance and accomplishments Without self- Poverty Prohibition by Engaged by Other Total parents parents control and control by parents M F M F M F M F M F 362 350 17 45 31 61 238 221 159 193 1.677 (9,59%) (9,27%) (0,45%) (1,19%) (0,82%) (1,62%) (6,30%) (5,85%) (4,21%) (5,11%) (44,42%)
Of 3.122 pupils, in 2.008 of them some of the listed impediments for school accomplishments were evidenced. Taking into account that it is possible that not all the parents denounced impediments, we may deduce that impediments for school accomplishments apply to even greater number of pupils. All of the above mentioned stresses out that pupils in this municipality are overburdened with variety of impediments and obstacles in their education. To overcome this, different working programmes for parents should be developed.
Graph 12. Most common impediments for school accomplishments
9,59 10 9,27 9 8 male female 6,3 7 5,85 6 5,11 5 4,21 4 3 1,62 2 1,19 0,82 0,45 1 0 prohibition by engaged by without self-control poverty other parents parents and control by parents 35
4.5. Summary of important findings 1. Educational status of parents è 7,37% (204) fathers are illiterate; è 16,08% (445) fathers have not completed primary education; è 28,27% (841) mothers are illiterate.
2. Educational status of children aged over 18 è 12,27% (113) children aged over 18 are illiterate; è 22,04% (203) children aged over 18 have not completed primary education.
3. Children's school attendance è 2,41% (91 pupil) attend school occasionally; è 31,02% (1.171 pupil) do not attend school; è 12,16% (459 pupils) are pupils up to 14 years of age (of whom 281 are female pupils).
4. Most common impediments for school attendance and accomplishments è 18,86% (712 pupils) are impeded because of poverty; è 12,15% (259 pupils) are pupils without control by their parents.
5. ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE FAMILY
Economic conditions of the Roma family represent basic and critical indicator of vulnerability. The economic conditions most commonly, if not always, have been characterised by a dominant poverty, although it has not strongly influenced changes into the cheerful spirit of Roma people.
Socio-economic crisis in Macedonia has also reflected the standard of the Roma family, inasmuch as the large part of those employed in the state sector were made redundant. On the other hand, those providing family's existence by services to the population has also lost that sector of their activites for the reason that the impoverished citizens are less and less powerful to pay for the services that they do not find needed any more.
Economic conditions of the Roma family in the municipality of Shuto Orizari were studied through the following factors: · Occupation of the head of the family; · Sources of existence; · Incomes in the family generated by children; · Average monthly financial budget of the family; · Most common family expenditures; and · Nutrition in the family. 36
This subchapter summarizes data on the above indicators not only for the families in general, but per regions in the municipality, all in order to be able to identify the regions where the poorest population lives.
5.1. Occupation of the head of the family
Table 1. Occupation of the head of the family per regions Occupation of the head of the family Region No Craft Trade Civil servant Other Total occupation I 505 74 22 5 83 689 (16,18%) (2,37%) (0,70%) (0,16%) (2,66%) (22,07%) II 458 173 23 22 77 753 (14,67%) (5,54%) (0,74%) (0,70%) (2,47%) (24,12%) III 107 33 9 3 35 187 (3,43%) (1,06%) (0,29%) (0,10%) (1,12%) (5,99%) IV 310 59 29 10 137 545 (9,93%) (1,89%) (0,93%) (0,32%) (4,39%) (17,46%) V 387 75 15 3 150 630 (12,40%) (2,40%) (0,48%) (0,10%) (4,80%) (20,18%) VI 241 45 6 4 22 318 (7,72%) (1,44%) (0,19%) (0,13%) (0,70%) (10,19%) Total 2.008 459 104 47 504 3.122 (64,32%) (14,70%) (3,33%) (1,51%) (16,14%) (100%)
The highest percentage of heads of families 64,32% (2.008) has no certificate on vocational skills or occupation. These are most frequently young fathers from 25-35 years of age (754), or from 36-50 years of age 34,86% (700). They are most commonly engaged in physical or other forms of low-paid jobs. The remaining part of them is craftsmen 14,70% (459) and tradesmen 3,33% (104).
Table 2. Heads of families with no occupation per age and regions Heads of families with no occupation per age Region 12-18 19-24 25-35 36-50 Over 50 Total I 6 (0,30%) 82 (4,08%) 197 (9,81%) 176 (8,76%) 44 (2,19%) 505 (25,15%) II 1 (0,05%) 62 (3,09%) 182 (9,06%) 151 (7,52%) 62 (3,09%) 458 (22,81%) III 0 (0,00%) 20 (1,00%) 29 (1,44%) 53 (2,64%) 5 (0,25%) 107 (5,33%) IV 7 (0,35%) 46 (2,29%) 116 (5,78%) 109 (5,43%) 32 (1,59%) 310 (15,44%) V 5 (0,25%) 70 (3,49%) 141 (7,02%) 132 (6,57%) 39 (1,94%) 387 (19,27%) VI 1 (0,05%) 40 (1,99%) 89 (4,43%) 79 (3,93%) 32 (1,59%) 241 (12,00%) Total 20 (1,00) 320 (15,94%) 754 (37,55%) 700 (34,86%) 214 (10,66%) 2.008 (100%)
The low educational level of the population reflects its professional qualifications. Therefore what is required is organisation of education on vocational skills and occupational training. 37
FOTOGRAFIJA 9
5.2. Sources of existence
Roma family provides for financial means from several sources, at first place from regular state jobs, pensions, registered private business, not registered private business, blackmarketing, compensation for bankruptcy of enterprise or redundancy, assistance from relatives, seasonal work and work as household servants.
FOTOGRAFIJA 10 38
The most present source of incomes is not registered private business. Incomes from such sources pour into the budgets of 17,74% of the families (707); followed by pensions in 16,84% (671 families) and 16,11% (642) from wages of employees in state jobs. Assistance from relatives is at reach for 9,6% (383) of the families, while seasonal work contributes in 7,08% of the families and work as household servants in 5,47% or 218 families, where predominantly women's labour is engaged.
As to the financial contribution of the family members, data disclose that fathers take the leading position (except for the activities related to work in other people's houses). Additional information is exemplified in the Table below.
Table 3. Sources of existence in the family
Sources of existence in the family Regula Pension Registered Unregistered Redun- Assista- Seasonal House- other Persons r state private private dancy nce from work hold Total business job business relatives services Father 438 108 83 591 74 169 238 16 297 2.014 (10,99%) (2,71%) (2,08%) (14,83%) (1,86%) (4,24%) (5,97%) (0,40%) (7,45%) (50,54%)
Mother 138 63 17 116 12 213 48 198 578 1.383 (3,46%) (1,58%) (0,43%) (2,91%) (0,30%) (5,35%) (1,20%) (4,97%) (14,50% (34,71%) Grand 51 445 1 0 8 1 0 4 7 517 -father (1,28%) (11,17%) (0,03%) (0,00%) (0,20%) (0,03%) (0,00%) (0,10%) (0,18%) (12,97%) Grand- 15 55 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 71 mother (0,38%) (1,38%) (0,00%) (0,00%) (0,03%) (0,00%) (0,00%) (0,00%) (0,00%) (1,78%) Total 642 671 101 707 95 383 286 218 882 3.985 (16,11%) (16,84%) (2,53%) (17,74%) (2,83%) (9,61%) (7,18%) (5,47%) (22,13%) (100%)
Considerable percentage (22,13%) refers to the financial means obtained from sources not listed as indicators. In the questionnaire, as addition to the question about sources of finances, sources such as: smuggling, prostitution, activities related to horses and other domestic animals, collecting scrap-iron or paper and so on, were enumerated. Here we should stress that great number of families receives some kind of social assistance which will be discussed in one of the forthcoming subchapters.
5.3. Incomes in the family generated by children
In the research information on whether the family realises incomes from its children was also required. From the answers obtained we concluded that children most often spend the money they earn. These incomes are usually obtained by providing services such as: cleaning car windscreens, selling cigarettes, assistance in craft stores, services in delivery of goods and so on. Children are in most cases engaged in assisting their parents in the domestic and other works. Of all children, only 3,11% who work give their earnings to the family to support family's subsistence. 39
Overview 17. Incomes in the family generated by children Child-contributed incomes in the family YES NO Total 97 (3,11%) 3.025 (96,89%) 3.122 (100%)
Graph 13. Incomes in the family generated by children
3.11
yes no
96.89
These data may be compared with the data obtained about the working engagement of children by their parents, which is approximately the same and is present in 2,44% of the children. The parents of around 100 children declared openly that they force their children to work and thus contribute by earning for the needs of the family, which is in itself factor signalising child abuse. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that this chapter does not discuss about means generated by children through begging. Namely, almost 2,5% of the children (about 77) earn through begging. Here it is important mentioning that many of the children are forced by their parents to beg and to afterwards give money earned that way to their parents.
5.4. Average monthly financial budget of the family
The amount of the financial budget of the family (in DM) was in the questionnaire divided into 7 qualitative categories: no regular minimal source of income; up to100 DM, 151-200 DM; 201- 300 DM, 301-400 DM; and more than 400 DM. The data obtained in the research are presented in the Table below. 40
Table 4. Average monthly financial budget of the family in DM and number of children in the family Average monthly financial budget of the family in DM No regular Up to 100 101-150 151-200 201-300 301-400 Over 400 Number minimal source of DM DM DM DM DM DM Total of income children 1-2 257 454 544 344 300 129 57 2.085 (8,23%) (14,54%) (17,42%) (11,02%) (9,61%) (4,13%) (1,83%) (66,78%) 3-5 91 93 357 184 157 54 46 982 (2,91%) (2,98%) (11,43%) (5,89%) (5,03%) (1,73%) (1,47%) (31,45%) 6-8 9 2 23 11 4 1 2 52 (0,29%) (0,06%) (0,74%) (0,35%) (0,13%) (0,03%) (0,06%) (1,67%) Over 8 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 (0,06%) (0,03%) (0,00%) (0,00%) (0,00%) (0,00%) (0,00%) (0,10%) Total 359 550 924 539 461 184 105 3.122 (11,50%) (17,62%) (29,60%) (17,26%) (14,77%) (5,89%) (3,36%) (100%)
Majority of families (29,60%) declares that they live with 101-150 DM per month, although significant number of families lives with monthly budgets of up to 100 DM (17,62%) and from 151-200 DM (17,26%). What is important here is to stress that families with more than eight children have no regular minimal source of incomes, while families with 6-8 children in the worst case have no regular minimal source of incomes or have only 101-150 DM per month.
The average monthly budget in the family is difficult to be precisely determined since most of the families do not receive regular monthly salaries. Most of them generate their monthly income on occasional basis, sometimes in greater sometimes in lower amount, and thus spend it in an unplanned manner. Furthermore, we consider that in the declarations about the monthly budget most of the families revealed the lower amount than the one they realistically possess. This is first of all because they spend their earnings as they generate it, and secondly because of the presence of believe on their part that it is not in their interest to present the highest amount of the family budget, which is in connection with their expectation to be granted some assistance in kind.
5.5. Most common family expenditures
What was evident in the research was that in 86,48% (2.700) of the families the greatest part of the family budget is set aside for food; while in 11,31% (353) of the families goes for covering household keeping expenses (electricity, water supply). 41
Overview 18. Most common family expenditures Most common family expenditures Household Food Clothes Weddings Other Total keeping expenses 353 (11.31%) 2.700 (86,48%) 17 (0,54%) 1 (0,03%) 51 (1,63%) 3.122 (100%)
Our informal considerations argue that families spend a lot of money on weddings and other customs which they treat with respect, but through the research numerical proof for this assumption was not brought about.
Along with it, it is important that expenses under the category "other" are in most cases expenses for medicines (for those suffering chronic diseases), school supplies, reparation of houses and so on.
Despite of the fact that almost all with difficulties earned money is being spent on food, Roma families still lack proper nutrition.
5.6. Cooking and consummation of hot meals
The research indicates that the money family has at disposal, is being most frequently spent on providing nutrition for the family. As to the nutrition, we find it important to elaborate the quality of the nutrition through two variables: whether the family prepares cooked meals and how many times a week does that take place (not once, once, several times or every day); and how many times a week family members consume hot meal. From the carried out conversations we found out that cooked food is much cheaper than ready-made products which do not require further preparation. Most common products used in cooking are: potatoes, rise and beans. For this reason majority of families prepare cooked meals every day 58,84% (1.837), while the number of families from the category of those who cook 2-3 times a week is lower. In the latter case prepared cooked meals are being consumed in the family for few days, since, as we suppose, most of them have fridge to keep the food in it in the mean time.
Small percentage 1,02% (32) represents families which, in our opinion, have no conditions to prepare food in the home or those who spend most of the day outside their homes, in the centre of the town, roaming around the train and bus stations and somehow managing to eat there.
Roma families most commonly consume cooked, mainly boiled meals, which sometimes is sufficient only for the children. Families in which their members consume cooked meal for lunch every day are most present (52,69%). Also, cooked meals are being consumed only in few days of the week (3-4 times) while the remaining days of the week families content with consummation of raw products and ready-made food (bread, peppers, tomatoes and so on). 42
About 16% of the families do not consume hot meal not even once a week, or consume hot meal only once a week. This mainly applies to the poorest families or families of young couples that spend most of the day outside looking for jobs, or of those who beg and spend days outside their homes (cases when some of them sleep over some place outside, such as on bus stations or public places, are not rare).
For the Roma families cooked meals are not only a need, but also a tradition of the mutual life. Therefore, even the poorest families try to bring food into their homes and cook. The assistance provided to the families in a form of packages with supplies is of huge importance to them in combating poverty.
5.7. Summary of important findings
1. Occupation of the head of the family è 64,32% (2.008) heads of families have no certificate in vocational skills or occupation (most frequently young fathers from 25-35 years of age).
2. Sources of existance è The most present source of inocme is not registered private business; è in 5,47% (218) families women's labour is predominantly engaged; è 22,13% (882) families generate financial means from sources not listed as indicators (smuggling, prostitution, hourse-related activities, collection of scrap-iron or paper).
3. Incomes in the family generated by children è only 3,11% of the children contribute with their earnings in the family budget.
4. Average monthly financial budget of the family è majority of families declares that lives with 101-150 DM per month;
5. Most common family expenditures è in 86,48% (2.700) families the greatest part of the family budget is set aside for food.
6. Nutrition in the family è 58,84% (1.837) families prepare hot meals every day; è in 52,69% of the families their members consume hot meals every day. 43
6. SOCIAL ENDANGEREMENT AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN THE FAMILIES
Majority of Roma inhabitants of the municipality of Shuto Orizari are without permanent employment and often hold insecure sources for their existence. Among other things, having this characteristic makes them qualify as socially endangered. Critical part of this population 52,18% (1.629) are registered in the Centres for Social Work in Skopje as recipients of social financial assistance. Likewise, 14,67% (458) of the families live at the edge of the poverty and are already potential beneficiaries of social assistance. This was specifically felt after the Kosovo events, when the traffic and trade relations with Yugoslavia were stopped. In Shuto Orizari, there are at present 15,60% or 487 families that are poor but do not receive social assistance and can not exercise the rights within the framework of social and health protection, due to lack of identification papers and documents, citizenship, birth certificates, proof of being dwellers of the town of Skopje and so on. This number of families must not be overlooked. These families are in need of assistance in issuing missing documents, while for those lacking primary education certificates, efforts must be made to somehow become involved in education.
6.1. Social assistance in the family (cash benefits)
Families considered as socially endangered receive social assistance from the State that amounts from 1.700,00 to 4.200,00 denars. Average 5-member family receives 4.200,00 denars per month. The research showed that greatest part of the population, that is families, are poor and thus majority live from the money received in a form of social assistance 52,53% (1.640 families). In addition to this, the possibility of the family to exercise the right to social assistance has further influenced the division of the patriarchal type of family as foregoing form of organisation. That is why it is very often for the older parents (grandmothers and grandfathers) to live, at least fictively, separated from their adult children, because this way both families can exercise their right to social assistance. To obtain the right to social assistance families must possess appropriate documents subject to means testing. 44
Graph 14. Social endangerement of the families
52.18 60
50
40 registered in CSW potential 30 17.55 not registered 15.6 14.67 well-off families 20
10
0
6.2. Begging in the family
Poor economic and social conditions, so as the disorganisation and in a way deep-rooted habit within the family, make many families find their ways out in begging. The study attests that 1,60% (50) parents beg regularly, while 0,58% (18) parents do it occasionally. Correspondingly, their own children often accompany them. Begging with children is present regularly in 1,83% (57 children) or occasionally in 0,64% (20 children). This way of life and earning for life is extremely devastating. Many of them are out of their homes all day (which was a reason why some of them could not be interviewed), while their houses, if any, are as a result in very bad condition. There is no crisis centre or shelter where they could be taken care of and influenced regarding their way of life. In the course of survey implementation we did not manage to question all the families which beg since many of them could not be found in their homes. Moreover, the parents of the children who beg were not always willing to report on that because it was not in their interest.
6.3. Alcoholism and drug addiction in the family
The alcohol is more commonly present, since it is mainly consumed to cheer them up and help them forget for a moment the difficult circumstances they live in. The research provided registered data that alcohol addiction is present with 2,78% (77) fathers and 0,03% (1) mother. These persons are left over without control often out of their living places. Here we should emphasize that it was very difficult for the surveyors to obtain data about the presence of alcohol or drug addiction in the families. Nonetheless, the presence of a crisis centre in this municipality would assist this category of parents in resocialisation and becoming useful members of the family. 45
Alcoholism with children, according to the research data is not so frequently present, since only 0,10% or 7 children aged over 15 were found as alcohol addicted. The research also witnesses that some adults, even children - adolescents, in psycho-pathological condition instead of attending treatment, consume alcohol or drugs (0,22% or 6 fathers; one child aged 7 and 2 children aged over 15), thus placing themselves and their families in difficult situation. Apart from the poverty they often bring about quarrels, fights and conflicts which adversely affects all family members, children at first.
6.4. Summary of important findings
1. Social assistance in the family (cash benefits) è 52,53% (1.640) families receive social assistance in a form of cash benefit; è 15,60% (487) poor families do not receive cash benefits due to lack of required documents.
2. Begging in the family è 1,60% (50) parents beg regularly; è 1,83% (57) children beg regularly.
3. Alcohol and drug addiction in the family è 2,78% (77) fathers are alcohol addicted. 46
7. SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT FINDINGS Notable number of Roma families in Shuto Orizari is vulnerable if perceived from variety of aspects. We shall here enlist only the most extreem results from the survey, as follows:
Demographic indicators è There are about 3.122 Roma families in the municipality of Shuto Orizari or about 13.974 inhabitants; è The assumption that Roma families in average have more children was not confirmed; 66,78% are families with only one or two children. The quality of the housing - communal conditions of the Roma families is in poor condition in more than 50% of the families. è 27,49% of the families live in improvised houses, dilapidated houses or hangars build up more than 30 years ago; è 41,35% of the families live in housing space below 5m2 per member; è 41,80% of the families use only one living quarter; è 51,67% families exit partly paved streets, whereas 35,71% are not provided streetlights. è 47,95% have only toilet in the yard without bathroom; Hygienic conditions è 40,36% of the families live in poor or insufficient hygienic conditions. Educational level è 49,96% of the fathers have only primary education, while 7,37% are illiterate and 16,08% of the parents have not completed primary education; è 55,60% of the mothers are illiterate or with uncompleted primary education; è 50,38% of the children aged over 18 have primary education only; è 44,42% of the children from 7-18 years of age face obstacles in the families, which impede their school accomplishments. Means of existence è 64,32% of parents have no diploma on occupation, in other words are unqualified workers; è 58,72% of the families possess no secured means of existence, living with only 100- 150 DM per month; è 86,48% of the families spends the greatest part of its budgets on purchasing food. Social endangerment è 52,18% of the families are registered in the Centres for Social Work as poor and as recipients of social assistance. 47
8. RECOMMENDATIONS
Œ To develop programmes (loans) for physical reconstruction of the houses and building new houses; • Health Care Programme for Prevention and Nutrition, Delivering Food Supplies; Ž Involvement of parents and adult children over 18 years of age in primary education for adults, education on vocational skills and occupational training; • Organisation of socio-educational work with pupils in school age, and even more important with their parents; • Establishment of a Crisis Centre to assist socially vulnerable persons and families. 48
VULNERABILITY OF THE ROMA MOTHERS
INTRODUCTION
The Roma mother is in many ways in close connection with the family, which despite tremendous societal changes, has sustained the patriarchal way of family relations. Because of this and many other reasons, Roma mother enters into marriage at early age, has children, thus not being in position to enter into working relation. She is in most cases dependant of her husband, in some cases of her mother and father in law (if living together), but at the same time she is main supporting pillar in the family who looks after children and maintains the household with the limited amount of finances at hand. Although the husband is the head of the family, the Roma wife is in most cases the one responsible for the functioning of the family in every respect: economic, social, health. Only a small number of Roma mothers ever become involved in the public life, are members of non-governmental organisations, or are active in the field of their educational and social promotion. The mass media (radio, TV) for the Roma mother are window that provides for their contacts with the outisde world. For those mothers working as household servants, this may serve as a chance to become aware and try to adopt some of the present-day views, attitudes and relations in the families they work for. In general, the Roma mother is tightly bound with her family and its social and cultural milieu and customs of the Roma community.
Therewith, we considered it important to dedicate special Chapter of this study to the Roma mother and study some of the aspects of her personality and living conditions, inasmuch as the fact that without the knowledge about Roma mothers it would be impossible to make an insight and address the vulnerability of Roma children.
1. DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS
In the research 2.975 mothers were questioned, which represents 21,29% of the total population in Shuto Orizari. In comparison with the remaining part of the adult family members, mothers are most numerous (59,45%); this also applies to the number of fathers (51,81%).
Overview 19. Age of mothers
Age of mothers 12-18 19-24 25-35 Over 35 Total 75 (2,52%) 565 (18,99%) 1.129 (37,94%) 1.206 (40,54%) 2.975 (100%) 49
Mother's age was divided into four categories: up to 18 years of age (up to adulthood) while other categories vary in progressive distances of 5, 10 or more years. This classification was made in order to be able to more easily survey young mothers, that is mothers of juvenile children.
The above Overview exhibits data that there are still under-aged mothers having neither maturity nor experience in childbearing. The population of young mothers is noteworthy since it is present with 59,45%. With the latter and also with the mothers from the first category, counseling and educational activity should be organised, in order to upgrade their capacities for motherhood, so as to obtain additional information which will assist in placing Roma mother at a higher position than the one she already holds.
FOTOGRAFIJA 11
2. THE AGE OF HAVING THE FIRST-BORN CHILD
The perilous condition of Roma mother can not be comprehensively revealed by examining young mothers, but at first place of crucial importance are data about the age of having the first- borns. The data obtained give us chance to see that almost half of the questioned mothers had given birth to their first-borns at the age up to 18, in other words while being under-aged. 50
Overview 20. Mother's age when having the first-born child
Mother's age when having the first-born child Below 12 12-14 15-18 Over 18 Total 1 (0,03%) 102 (3,43%) 1.216 (40,87%) 1.656 (55,66%) 2.975 (100%)
In view of the present age of Roma mothers and the age when having the first-born child, we may safely state that in Shuto Orizari mothers step into marriages very young and inexperienced. Correspondingly, they all bear children very young, which all together entails a line of consequences for the further life affecting their personality, status, chances and capabilities to successfully perform different social and family functions, of which motherhood and parenthood take the leading position.
One thing is sure, that is that such conditions may lead towards making Roma mother unguarded. The data presented into this paper should emphasise the demand for developing social and educational policy and creating favorable conditions for increased emancipation of not only Roma mothers, but also of their female children. Starting from the educational programmes at the primary schools, they should be well educated and engaged in many activities directed towards edification. In this respect, intensive social work with the female pupils' parents must not be ignored.
3. HEALTH INSURANCE OF MOTHERS
Most of the mothers (81,62%) are health insured through their husbands (if in regular job, recepients of compensations due to bankruptcy of an enterprise or redundancy, or if registered in the Employment Bureau). They are entitled to health insurance as recipients of perpetual subsidy from the Centres for Social Work or benefits in cash. Forasmuch as young mothers are not usually employed, they can not be health insured on the basis of own employment status.
The remaining 18,38% of the mothers in Shuto Orizari which are health uninsured, may use the free-of-charge services provided by Caritas's ambulance and pharmacy operating on the territory of the municipality. These are usually mothers of husbands in no possession of citizenship or other identification papers, without which are not entitled to exercising the right to health insurance.
4. EDUCATIONAL STATUS OF MOTHERS
One of the most important indicators of the threatening position of Roma mothers is the educational status which was also subject of the study. Education of mothers was studied through several educational categories according to their age (See Table below). 51
Table 5. Educational status of mothers per age Educational status of mothers per age Age Illiterate Uncompleted Primary Uncompleted Secondary High Total primary school secondary school education school school 12-18 38 (1,28%) 26 (0,87%) 11 (0,37%) 0 (0,00%) 0 (0,00%) 0 (0,00%) 75 (2,52%) 19-24 144 (4,84%) 192 (6,45%) 211 (7,09%) 3 (0,10%) 15 (0,50%) 0 (0,00%) 565 (18,99%) 25-35 235 (7,90%) 254 (8,54%) 522 (17,55%) 22 (0,74%) 95 (3,19%) 1 (0,03%) 1.129 (37,95%) Over 35 424 (14,25%) 341 (11,46%) 359 (12,07%) 9 (0,30%) 71 (2,39%) 2 (0,07%) 1.206 (40,54%) Total 841 (28,27%) 813 (27,33%) 1.103 (37,08%) 34 (1,14%) 181 (6,08%) 3 (0,10%) 2.975 (100%)
The data witness extremely displeasing condition in view of education. More than half of the mothers has no primary education 55,6% (1.654). The greatest number of them are aged up to 35 - 29,88% (889), while those aged up to 24 are present in 13,44% or 400 mothers. For the rest of them the primary education prevails - 37,08% (1.103), meaning that these mothers are not qualified for craft or occupation, which is a warning sign of extremely low educational level that leads towards social endangerment and social exclusion. This situation imposes the pressing need to undertake urgent measures and actions to overcome such a complex problem. Low educational level of Roma mothers for them often means being unlearned, inemancipated, neglected and destitute, having no possibility for employment and personal improvement. In Shuto Orizari establishment of several institutions for formal and informal education of women, by the state or by NGO's sector, would be of conspicuous benefit.
Uneducated mother is not in unreliable position only for herself, but her status also reflects the life in the whole family, especially in the field of raising and assisting children in their school obligations. Although they are often quite ambitious as regards their children's education, being powerless when it comes to assisting them, makes them live with the thought of failure in their mother's roles.
Table 6. Education and number of children with mothers per age Young mothers, education and number of children Mother's Without primary education With primary education Uncompleted secondary education age Total 1 2 3 More 1 2 3 More 1 2 3 More child child child child child child child child child ren ren ren ren ren ren below 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) 12-14 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 (0,04) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0,04%) 15-18 47 14 2 0 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 74 (1.68) (0.50) (0.07) (0%) (0.32) (0.07) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (0%) (2.65%) Over 18 471 478 366 275 307 480 205 100 9 15 7 3 2.716 (16.88) (17.13) (13.11) (9.85) (11.00) (17.20) (7.35) (3.58) (0.32) (0.54) (0.25) (0.11) (40.54%) Total 519 492 368 275 316 482 205 100 9 15 7 3 2.791 (18.60) (17.63) (13.19) (9.85) (11.32) (17.27) (7.35) (3.58) (0.32) (0.54) (0.25) (0.11) (100%) 52
Mothers of 1.654 children are with no primary education (23,85%) having most often one, two or sometimes more than two children; 39,52% of the mothers with primary education have most often two children.
This information supports the need for opening kintergardens on the territory of Shuto Orizari, NGO's, Centres for Children and Youth such as "Hope" or similar institutions where professional assistance will be provided to those children who lack assistance from their uneducated mothers. What is also find especially needed is a night school for primary education, vocational training and non-formal education for the Roma mothers.
5. ECONOMIC STATUS (WORKING ENGAGEMENT)
The Roma woman - mother is in most cases economically supported by her husband, although there are cases when she is the one engaged in income generating activities.
Overview 21. Working engagement of mothers
Working engagement of mothers Regular Pension Registered Unregi- Redu- Assistance Seasonal House- Other state private stered ndancy from work hold Total job business private relatives serving business 138 63 17 116 12 213 48 198 578 1.383 (3.46%) (1.58%) (0.43%) (2.91%) (0.30%) (5.35%) (1.20%) (4.97%) (14.50%) (34.71%)
Many of the mothers are involved in household servants or receive assistance from their close relatives who work abroad (fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers). Mothers are also employed in regular state jobs, but it is assumed that they work on the lowest paid jobs. Mothers earn also through unregistered private businesses, especially in trade with textile products on market counters. Although we did not always encountered mothers who were willing to admit, some of them did, we should here add that there are mothers who earn for life through smuggling, even begging and prostitution. 53
FOTOGRAFIJA 12
6. BREAST-FEEDING WITH MOTHERS
For the Roma mother breast-feeding is part of their tradition in nourishing children. The research indicated that mothers do not breast-feed their children only if fall short of breast milk or are kept from doing it due to suffering a disease. Those mothers who breast-feed their children do it first of all because of lacking proper nutrition for the babies in a form of breast milk substitutes, but also because of the mother's care and responsibility inherited with Roma mothers, irrespective of their age. If taken into account that very often mothers bear several children one at a time, some of them are in period of lactation for 6-8 years continuously, this makes it easier to them to continiusly breast-feed their children.
Overview 22. Length of breast-feeding
Length of breast-feeding Up to 3 4-12 months 13-24 months over 24 Did not Total months months breast-feed 316 (10,62%) 1.337 (44,94%) 740 (24,87%) 233 (7,38%) 349 (11,73%) 2.975 (100%)
7. COOKING AMONG ROMA MOTHERS
The Roma woman usually spends most of the day in the home. One of her basic obligations is preparation of food for the family, at first for the children. Mothers housewives find home- prepared (boiled) food in greater quantity much cheaper and sufficient for every family member. She is able, using some vegetables and cereals, to prepare tasty and high-quantity food. That is why the research showed that 58,42% of the families (1.837) prepare cooked meal every day, while in 28,19% (880) several times a week. 54
This indicator may serve humanitarian organisations or foundations that assist this population, to increase their contribution in a form of supply of nutritional products for cooking and woods for both heating and cooking.
8. SINGLE MOTHERS
In Shuto Orizari, despite the fact that majority of families are complete as regards parents (are comprised of a mother and a father), we also encountered families of single mothers (554 families - 7,99%).
The divorce turned out to be most present reason for single mothers living alone, present in 3,16% (219 absent fathers), or deceased parent 2,16% (150 deceased fathers).
Single mothers usually live with their children and often in a community with their parents or other members of the extended family.
Overview 23. Reasons for families of single mothers
Reasons for families of single mothers Deceased father Divorce Abandoned by husbands Other Total and husbands abroad 150 (2,16%) 219 (3,16%) 54 (0,78%) 131 (1,89%) 554 (7,99%)
Single mothers are reasonably in most endangered situation, since for them it is more difficult to provide subsistential means for their children. In Shuto Orizari, fathers are most numerous and are in better Overview position in terms of providing means of existance, although again mainly through working in low-paid jobs. Single mothers in Shuto Orizari should be particularly protected, through providing employment opportunities and engagement in many humanitarian actions.
FOTOGRAFIJA 13 55
Families with absent mothers are present in small percentage (2,97%), while there are 64 families with deceased mothers (0,92%).
9. MOTHERS WHO BEG
Although begging is source of incomes for the poorest strata in Shuto Orizari, the research revealed that it is present in 2,18% or 6 mothers. Hereby, we assume that the real number of mothers who beg is bigger, because field researchers encountered difficulties in pulling out these information, although they were professional social workers and well familiarised with the field situation.
Very often, mothers who beg do it together with their children, being outside all day long, or spending the nights some place else than in Shuto Orizari. It was partly a reason why it was difficult to reach all of them for this research.
Poverty is not the only reason why mothers have chosen to earn for life this way. Here, other factors, first of all mental, influence the decision. Therefore, it is more than certain that working and dealing with these mothers is not easy at all, and that establishment of a Crisis Centre in the municipality which will shelter mothers who beg and their children and involve them in appropriately designed programmes is inevitable form of responsiveness to the problem.
10. DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION AMONG MOTHERS
Majority of mothers in Shuto Orizari are in position to have to fight against poverty in their families. They give their best in trying to provide minimal possibilities for life and existence in the family with the little money they have at disposal. The research also indicated that there are no significant cases of presence of neither alcohol nor drug addiction. There was only one case of woman alcoholic, who, regarding the whole population of mothers is negligible. There are also findings that it happens among women in psychological crisis, instead of medicines, to reach for alcohol and present problem not only for the family but also for their closer environment. For this reason, these women were not included in the category of alcohol addicted.
The review of the Roma mother shows that many segments of her personal and family life are at stake. 56
11. SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT FINDINGS
è Mothers compared with fathers are present in higher percentage (51,81%); è There are 2,52% (75) under-aged mothers; è 44,33% of the mothers had their first-borns before reaching 18 years of age, that is before the adulthood; of them 3,46% are below 14 years of age (103); è 44,94% (1.337) of the mothers have breast-fed their children 4-12 months in average, while 24,87% (740) up to two years of age; è 55,6% (1.654) of the mothers are illiterate or with uncompleted primary education; 37,08% (1.103) are mothers with completed primary education; è Mothers of 23,85% (1.654) children are without primary education; è Only 14,85% of the mothers earn for life (in different ways). Of them about 5% earn by working as household cervants; 2,18% of mothers earn by begging; è 7,99% of the mothers (554) are single parents, frequently living alone with their children.
12. RECOMMENDATIONS
Œ Establishment of several institutions for formal and informal education of women, by the state or by NGO's sector, would be of conspicuous benefit; • Opening kindergartens on the territory of Shuto Orizari, Centres for children and youth or similar institutions where professional assistance will be provided to hose children who lack assistance from their uneducated mothers; Ž Advisory Centre for Health Protection; • Assistance in a form of hygienic supplies and organised education for hygiene maintenance among population, at first place for the Roma children and women (educators may be representatives from the local population); • Developing social and educational policy and creating favorable conditions for increased emancipation of not only Roma mothers, but also of their female children. ‘ Special TV and radio programmes for Roma mothers; ’ Creating opportunities for organised employment. 57
VULNERABILITY OF THE ROMA CHILDREN
INTRODUCTION
In the category of vulnerable children, almost always in all researches, Roma children are, by rule, included. The low existential level of the families they live in, so as the low educational level, health and social milieus, are always present indicators of their vulnerability.
That is why our research is mainly directed towards analysis and study of the vulnerability of Roma children in Shuto Orizari, as municipality in which 6.936 children live, or 49,64% of the total Roma population on the territory of this municipality. Shuto Orizari is the largest inhabited area with Roma people not only in the Republic of Macedonia, but in the Balkans. The data obtained through this research, we assume, will be important represent and basis for underOverview Roma way of life, of problems and needs of this population, and first of all those of the young generation - children.
FOTOGRAFIJA 14
In this Chapter we involved all of the aspects of the life of Roma children which in our opinion are of greatest importance. The data obtained are presented in numbers and percents in tables, overviews and graphs. The content of this Chapter includes the following aspects:
Ø Demographic indicators; Ø Housing and communal conditions; 58
Ø Hygienic and health conditions; Ø Educational status; Ø Breast-feeding; Ø Nutrition; Ø Social and economic endangerment.
1. DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS
Data about children's age are presented in four categories: 0-3 (early age); 4-6 (pre-school age), 7-14 (school age), 15-18 (secondary school age) and over 18 years of age or young adults (based on the social - educational institution they can attend). The study involved 17,69% of children aged 0-3 years of age, of whom 9,80% (680) are male and 7,89% (547) are female children. There are 14,60% (1.013) children aged 4-6, of whom 7,67% are male and 6,93% female.
Majority of Roma children are in school age 54,42% of whom 37,95% are primary school children, while 16,47% are children in secondary school age.
Overview 24. Age and gender of children Age and gender of children 0-3 4-6 7-14 15-18 over 18 Total M F M F M F M F M F 680 547 532 481 1.353 1.279 601 542 575 346 6.936 (9.80%) (7.89%) (7.67%) (6.93%) (19.51%) (18.44%) (8.66%) (7.81%) (8.29%) (4.99%) (100%)
FOTOGRAFIJA 15
1.1. Children in the families in the most endangered regions (I, V and VI)
Most endangered regions in Shuto Orizari are the regions I, V and VI. In these regions where housing and communal living conditions are very inferior, live more than half of the Roma children (56,38% or 1.637 children). They are exposed to all dangers which may be caused by 59 the disadvantageous living conditions. Living in such circumstances disables children in capabilities and capacities to comply with home and school obligations.
It should be mentioned that the Youth Centre is situated in this most endangered part of Shuto Orizari. It is part of the Centre for Social Initiatives "Hope", which within the framework of different projects, organises learning assistance to pupils, and very often compensates what can not be offered in the children's home in regard to their education.
Majority of children in these regions are at the school age (43,76% - 2.632 children).
1.2. Summary of important findings
Demographic indicators è 6.936 Roma children live in the municipality of Shuto Orizari; è Majority of children is in school age (54,42%); è 37,97% (2.631 of whom 1.353 are male and 1.279 are female) children are in primary school age; è 14,60% (1.013) children are in preschool age (4-6 years).
2. HOUSING - COMMUNAL CONDITIONS
2.1. Quality of the housing Majority of children lives in houses constructed of solid materials, while 22,20% of children lives in dilapidated and montage houses made of tin and build up more than 30 years ago. About 5,29% (165) children live in improvised houses, which is also a meaningful figure.
Table 7. Number of children in the families and quality of the housing Number of children in the families Quality of the Up to 2 3-4 5-6 7-10 over 10 Total housing children children children children children Improvised house 93 53 14 4 1 165 (2.98%) (1.70%) (0.45%) (0.13%) (0.03%) (5.29%) Dilapidated and 438 201 46 8 0 693 montage house (14.03%) (22.20%) (6.44%) (1.47%) (0.26%) (0,00%) Solid contruction 1.554 644 58 8 0 2.264 house (49.78%) (20.63%) (1,86%) (0,26%) (0,00%) (72.52%) Total 2.085 898 118 20 1 3.122 (66.78%) (28.76%) (3.78%) (0.64%) (0.03%) (100%) 60
Data are presented both in percentages and in real figures since we believe that it would be useful to obtain objective picture of the number of children and quality of the housing they live in.
Table 8. Quality of the housing in families with children aged 0-18 Quality of the housing in families with children aged 0-18 Age Improvised house Dilapidated and Solid construction Total montage house house 0-3 80 (1.33%) 324 (5.39%) 823 (13.68%) 1.227 (20.40%) 4-6 72 (1.20%) 267 (4.44%) 674 (11.21%) 1.013 (16.84%) 7-14 161 (2.68%) 644 (10.71%) 1.827 (30.37%) 2.632 (43.76%) 15-18 66 (1.10%) 232 (3.86%) 845 (14.05%) 1.143 (19.00%) Total 379 (6.30%) 1.467 (24.39%) 4.169 (69.31%) 6.015 (100%)
FOTOGRAFIJA 16
2.2. Housing space per family member
Majority of children lives in homes with only 2 living quarters. These involve daily residence and kitchen, meaning that children have no separate beds, nor places where they could learn. What's more, same quarters are used as daily residences for family's close relatives and neighbors coming for visits in the free time, smoking cigarettes, which adds to the already jeopardised children's health.
The housing space refers to the average of the total housing space used by the family which involves the daily residence (living room, kitchen, bathroom and toilet). The data indicated that the greatest number of families 1.291 or 41,35% live in 2-5m2 in average per member. The situation concerning housing space worsens if taken into account that this housing space is mostly used by the families living in improvised houses or in dilapidated and montage houses. 61
2.3. Summary of important findings
Housing - communal conditions è 22,20% (693) children live in dilapidated and montage houses; è 5,29% (165) children live in improvised houses; è Majority of children lives in homes with only two living quarters; è 1.291 children live in housing space with only 2-5m2 per member (including the kitchen and the bedroom).
2.4. Recommendations
ΠSince the majority of Roma children have no favorable health and learning conditions in their homes and bearing in mind the fact that such condition can not be easily and promptly addressed, it is more than necessary for these children to be engaged in Day Centres for Children and Youth established within the territory of the community or within the existing schools. There, they would reside from 2-4 hours in organised preparatory activities for school obligations, so as free-time and complementary educational activities.
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3. HEALTH AND HYGIENIC VULNERABILITY OF ROMA CHILDREN
3.1. Hygienic conditions
The condition of tight housing space used for everyday life in the homes of children is worsened by the fact that houses are inappropriately built without required sanitary or hygienic conditions. The field researches, while analyzing hygienic conditions, determined three variables: poor, insufficient and satisfying hygienic conditions. Poor hygienic conditions are typical for houses in which the yard so as the interior of the house are in poor hygienic condition, evidently using hygienic cleansers rarely. Under such conditions live children in 19,35% of the families (604). Insufficient hygienic conditions are typical for those families that use minimal hygienic supplies and washing cleansers. In such conditions live children in 22,42% (700 families). Both variables are indicators of the extremely unguarded position of Roma children viewed from the hygienic aspect present in 41,77%. To overcome this shortage it is not enough only to assist these families with supply of hygienic cleansers, but it is necessary to educate family members on the importance of hygiene from the health aspect. In this respect, it is in quite useful to involve schools and NGO's in organisation of actions and activities for raising hygienic awareness among population, so as in educational forms and methods of teaching.
Therewith, it is worth stressing that considerable number of Roma families live in satisfying hygienic conditions (58,23% - 1.810), where children are tidy, their homes clean, hygienic supplies used regularly. This part of the population with developed and adopted proper attitude towards hygiene may become involved in actions and activities for raising the general hygienic level in the municipality, especially among those families who lack hygienic culture.
3.2. Bath and haircutting
Within the framework of the exploration of hygienic living conditions, the frequency of bath and haircutting with children was also studied as an indicator of the vulnerability from the hygienic point of view. Bath and haircutting with children were classified in two categories: regular bath (1-2 times a week) and irregular bath (not even once a week).
Majority of children, irrespective of the sanitary conditions, take regular baths (90,66%), while only 9,34% or 562 children do not take baths regularly (herein bearing in mind that the survey was carried out in the summer period). Besides the fact that this percentage is not high, the number indicating that 562 children do not take regular baths should in itself worry. Having bath is basic precondition not only for the hygienic way of life, but also for the good health and preventive protection against different diseases (skin or communicable diseases). The community of Shuto Orizari, as well as the NGO's operating on its territory could, through different programmes and creating conditions, influence the decline of this number. 63
Table 9. Bathe with children per age Bath with children Age Regular bathe Irregular bathe Total (1-2 times a week) (not once a week) 0-3 1.081 (17.97%) 146 (2.43%) 1.227 (20.40%) 4-6 896 (14.90%) 117 (1.95%) 1.013 (16.84%) 7-14 2.402 (39.93%) 230 (3.82%) 2.632 (43.76%) 15-18 1.074 (17.86%) 69 (1.15%) 1.143 (19.00%) Total 5.453 (90.66%) 562 (9.34%) 6.015 (100%)
Haircutting is also characteristic of hygienic and tidy way of life. Probably as a result of the fact that there are more barbershops, most of the children take regular haircuts. But still, there are children whose appearance betrays this. Some of the already realised projects in this municipality (as the one of Caritas - Essen) already involved haircutting within their programmes.
FOTOGRAFIJA 18 64
In highest percentage, children of school age are those who do not take regular haircuts. This should be a warning sign for schools to enter upon measures for uprooting the unhygienic habits with children and to work on their improvement. Table 10. Hair cutting with children per age
Haircutting with children Age Regular hair cutting Irregular hair cutting Total (neat hair) (messy hair) 0-3 1.081 (17.97%) 146 (2.43%) 1.227 (20.40%) 4-6 901 (14.98%) 112 (1.86%) 1.013 (16.84%) 7-14 2.403 (39.95%) 229 (3.81%) 2.632 (43.76%) 15-18 1.060 (17.62%) 83 (1.38%) 1.143 (19.00%) Total 5.445 (90.52%) 570 (9.48%) 6.015 (100%)
3.3. Health insurance
Of total 6.015 children involved in the research, majority is health insured 78,79% (4.739 children). The right to health insurance may be effectuated on several basis, such as: parent's working status, registration in the Employment Bureau (under bankruptcy, redundancy, job seeking), social protection rights (for socially endangered families).
The health insurance scheme provides to children free examinations and medicines, although for some medical examinations the certain amount of financial participation is required. On the other hand, must point out that most of the medicines from the list of free of charge medicines are in deficit in the pharmacies, thus placing citizens in a situation to have to pay for them. Hence, very often this percentage of socially insured children is in practice forced to buy medicines and pay certain percentage of the examinations' cost.
Still, considerable number of children is health uninsured 21,21% (1.276 children), meaning that in case of disease or sickness their parents must pay for the examination as well for the medicines. In position that majority of parents can not afford professional medical assistance, children are left over to the unfitting care of their parents. The right to health insurance for the parents and their children can not be exercised by parents who are not in regular state working relation, those working privately and not paying health contribution, persons without citizenship and primary education who can not register in the Employment bureau (as redundants, bankruptcy workers, or job seekers) nor in the Centre for Social Work (as claimants for social assistance benefits).
Of the category of children who are not health insured 38,17% are in school age (7-14 years), 25,55% are aged 0-3 and 18,73% are aged 4-6. Children who are in school age and are not health insured, are exposed to risks of catching disease from their class maids, or catch an acute diseases due to improper clothing and nutrition. In such cases, missing health insurance impedes 65 the possibility of medical treatment and jeopardises their health and their normal growth and development.
Table 11. Health insurance per children's age Health insurance per children's age Age Health insured Health uninsured Total 0-3 901 (14.98%) 326 (5.42%) 1.227 (20.40%) 4-6 774 (12.87%) 239 (3.97%) 1.013 (16.84%) 7-14 2.145 (35.66%) 487 (8.10%) 2.632 (43.76%) 15-18 919 (15.28%) 224 (3.72%) 1.143 (19.00%) Total 4.739 (78.79%) 1.276 (21.21%) 6.015 (100%)
In Shuto Orizari, as previously mentioned, an ambulance and pharmacy of the humanitarian organisation Caritas, established within the Project on Roma Reintegration, operate. Unfortunately, after the Project ended, the activity of these institutions has been reduced.
Research data presented in the table witness the necessity to organise health protection and medical treatment for health uninsured children. The efforts aimed at betterment of the present conditions in this respective area should be two-sided. First, the humanitarian activities of the already existing ambulance and pharmacy and of other foundations should be strengthened, and secondly, assistance should be provided in involving parents without primary education in the educational process in order to obtain primary education and thus the right to employment and registering in the Employment Bureau. Also, social services should assist persons without required documents in issuing them.
3.4. Immunisation and vaccination
Immunisation and vaccination are important preventive measure in the control of communicable diseases. In the municipality of Shuto Orizari several programmes have taken care of regular vaccination with children. The territorial compactibiity of the municipality in majority of cases provides for the possibility for insight and monitoring of the immunisation and vaccination programmes.
Table 12. Immunisation and vaccination per children's age Imunisation and vaccination per children's age Age Regularly vaccinated Irregularly vaccinated Total 0-3 1.092 (18.15%) 135 (2.24%) 1.227 (20.40%) 4-6 898 (14.93%) 115 (1.91%) 1.013 (16.84%) 7-14 2.380 (39.57%) 252 (4.19%) 2.632 (43.76%) 15-18 1.029 (17.11%) 114 (1.90%) 1.143 (19.00%) Total 5.399 (89.76%) 616 (10.24%) 6.015 (100%) 66
The greatest number of children had been immunised and vaccinated 89,76% (5.399). Only 10,24% of the children (616) had not been subjected to this health-care procedure. As for these children, the situation is not judged as worrying since 40,91% of the children are in school age and almost the same is the percentage of children from 0-6 years of age. For these children efforts should be made for their vaccination and immunisation.
3.5. Most common diseases with children
Hazardous conditions in which Roma children live influence their more frequent suffering from acute and contagious diseases. Because of that, we should not ignore the fact that these children are more resisting, reluctant and immune as regards many different diseases. This was proven by the research data obtained from the statements of their parents about diseases suffered by the
Table 13. Diseases present with children and children's age
Diseases Age 0-3 4-6 7-14 15-18 Total Tuberculosis 3 2 4 1 10 (0.05%) (0.03%) (0.07%) (0.02%) (0.17%) Hepatitis 39 40 141 65 285 (0.65%) (0.67%) (2.34%) (1.08%) (4.74%) Asthma 7 4 9 7 27 (0.12%) (0.07%) (0.15%) (0.12%) (0.45%) Bronchitis and respiratory 149 97 147 40 433 diseases (2.48%) (1.61%) (2.44%) (0.67%) (7.20%) Rachitis 2 3 7 0 12 (0.03%) (0.05%) (0.12%) (0.00%) (0.20%) Cardiac diseases 6 5 16 10 37 (0.10%) (0.08%) (0.27%) (0.17%) (0.62%) Skin diseases 17 18 34 6 75 (0.28%) (0.30%) (0.57%) (0.10%) (1.25%) Hernia 2 0 2 0 4 (0.03%) (0.00%) (0.03%) (0.00%) (0.07%) Child paralysis 0 0 2 1 3 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.03%) (0.02%) (0.05%) Intestinal diseases 1 0 2 3 6 (0.02%) (0.00%) (0.03%) (0.05%) (0.10%) Leukemia 0 0 2 2 4 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.03%) (0.03%) (0.07%) Meningitis 5 2 1 0 8 (0.08%) (0.03%) (0.02%) (0.00%) (0.13%) Epilepsy 0 0 1 2 3 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.02%) (0.03%) (0.05%) Anemia 1 0 1 2 4 (0.02%) (0.00%) (0.02%) (0.03%) (0.07%) Diabetes 0 0 0 1 1 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.02%) (0.02%) Total 232 171 369 140 912 (3.86%) (2.84%) (6.13%) (2.33%) (15.16%) 67 children at present or in the past. Among the acute diseases the bronchitis along with the respiratory diseases are the most present (7,20% or 433 children) - in the past and in the current year. Its presence is most frequent with children from 0-3 years of age 2,48% (149 children) which in it self indicates that for the children from this age group organisation of proper health protection in this domain is inevitably needed. Also, children of pre-school and school age often suffer bronchitis 1,61% and 2,44% (97 and 147 children).
Among the contagious diseases most present is the hepatitis suffered in the last and current year by 4,74% (285) children, prevailably of school age 2,34% (141 children). The presented list of diseases points out the need for organisation not only of preventive care for this population, but also organisation of health assistance to families with children already affected with some of the diseases. In this regard equally important is the need for health education of children and specifically of their mothers.
3.6. Mortality of children
The surveyors in the course of survey implementation noticed that parents not readily give information about their deceased children. They often refuse talking about it. Despite of that, we obtained data that the highest mortality of Roma children is present immediately after the birth, or in the early age group from 0-3 with 2,38% (143 children). The mortality of children is a result of various factors such as: economic, social or health.
Table 14. Mortality per children's age Mortality per children's age Age Mortality Total number of alive children 0-3 143 (2.38%) 1.227 (20.40%) 4-6 4 (0.07%) 1.013 (16.84%) 7-14 4 (0.07%) 2.632 (43.76%) 15-18 2 (0.03%) 1.143 (19.00) Total 153 (2.54%) 6.015 (100%)
Although the percentage may seem low, the number it self is a warning sign that imposes the need for increased and improved protection of infants and small children through projects and programmes accessible for this population.
3.7. Disability
Disability with children was studied through three parameters: children with physical disability, blind and deaf-dumb children. The research revealed 0,57% of children with physical disability (34). These are most often children from 7-14 years of age (61,76%) of all children with disabilities. The respective percentage among children aged up to 6 is lower, since disability in most cases is a consequence of accidents or diseases, in general occurring after the age of 6. 68
Also, we found out that only small number of disabled children are placed into institutions. About them we were informed from their parents, whilst for those disabled children without parents or parental care, placed in institutions, we had no possibilities to obtain information through the questionnaire.
In Shuto Orizari there are 0,22% (13) blind children aged 0-18, of them 10 are school age children who do not attend school.
Table 15. Disability per children's age
Disability per children's age Age Physically disabled Blind Deaf-dumb Total 0-3 3 (0.05%) 2 (0.03%) 1 (0.02%) 6 (0.10%) 4-6 2 (0.03%) 1 (0.02%) 4 (0.07%) 7 (0.12%) 7-14 21 (0.35%) 6 (0.10%) 13 (0.22%) 40 (0.67%) 15-18 8 (0.13%) 4 (0.07%) 7 (0.12%) 19(0.32%) Total 34 (0.57%) 13 (0.22%) 25 (0.42%) 72 (1.20%)
The research also disclosed 25 (0,42%) deaf-dumb children, of whom 20 are in school age. Of them only small percentage attends school or specialised institution. They most commonly remain in the family, as beneficiaries of social protection allowance by the state, which in a way is important contributor to the family budget. Not rarely they are being capacitated to perform certain working activities (or begging) by the family members, thus being placed in position to contribute to the family standard. Irrespective of everything, these children should be involved in the school system where they can gain qualifications for self-supporting life.
3.8. Mental disabilities with children
Mental disabilities with children were divided into three categories: children with profound mental disabilities (incapable of independent life); children with severe disabilities (who can partially look after themselves) and children with moderate mental disabilities (those who although slowly and with difficulties can still independently meet basic human needs). The children of each category had already been submitted to categorisation of the mental disability or been made assessment of the state of mental backwardness by the professionals from the Centres for social work.
Children with profound and severe mental disabilities are most commonly revealed in school age, when it becomes obvious that they are incapacitated to attend school. Almost one third of them are not categorised in specialised for the purpose institutions. Categorisation provides 69 them, according to the Law on Social Protection, with the right to social protection allowance and allowance for care by others.
In Shuto Orizari there are 68 children with mental disabilities, of them majority are not under institutional care nor attend specialised school. Bearing in mind that the latest thinking opposes placement of these category of children in institutions, it would be useful to establish a Day Care Centre where their mental and physical abilities would advance and would also serve as a substitute for the parents' efforts in care for them. The parents should be equally involved in organised educational and other supporting activities.
Table 16. Mental disabilities per children's age Mental disabilities Age Profound Severe Moderate Total Categorised Not categorised Categorised Not categorised Categorised Not categorised Categorised Not categorised 0-3 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 2 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.02%) (0.02%) (0.00%) (0.02%) (0.02%) (0.03%) 4-6 0 0 1 2 0 2 1 4 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.02%) (0.03%) (0.00%) (0.03%) (0.02%) (0.07%) 7-14 19 6 6 4 2 3 27 13 (0.32%) (0.10%) (0.10%) (0.07%) (0.03%) (0.05%) (0.45%) (0.22%) 15-18 6 2 4 4 3 1 13 7 (0.10%) (0.03%) (0.07%) (0.07%) (0.05%) (0.02%) (0.22%) (0.12%) Total 25 8 12 11 5 7 42 26 (0.42%) (0.13%) (0.20%) (0.18%) (0.08%) (0.12%) (0.70%) (0.43%)
Some of the mentally disabled are being abused by their parents by being taken to public places to beg. Therefore, it would be more than urgent to prepare precise and detailed information on the situation of these children in order to shield them through their coverage by the forms of social protection system.
3.9. Summary of important findings
Health and hygienic protection 1. Hygienic conditions è Poor and insufficient hygienic conditions 40,36% (2.428) è Regular bath 90,66% (5.453) è Irregular bath - not even once a week 9,34% (562) è Regular haircutting 90,52% (5.445) è Irregular haircutting 9,48% (570) 2. Health conditions è Health uninsured children 21,21% (1.276) è Regularly vaccinated children 89,76% (5.399) è Irregularly vaccinated children 10,24% (616) 70
3. Most common diseases with children in the last and current year è Hepatitis 4,74% (285) è Respirator diseases 7,20% (433) è Diarrhea 9,10% (636) è Skin diseases 1,25% (75) 4. Mortality è Mortality with children 2,54% (153) è Mortality after birth up to the age of 3 - 2,38% (143) 5. Disability è Disability with children 1,20% (72) è Mental disability 1,13% (68) Profound disability 0,55% (33) Moderate disability 0,38% (33)
3.10. Recommendations
Œ Assistance in a form of delivering hygienic supplies and organised education for hygiene maintenance and raising hygienic awareness among population, at first place for the Roma children and women (educators may be representatives from the local population); • The community of Shuto Orizari, as well as the NGO's operating on its territory could, through different programmes and creating conditions, influence the reduce of the number of children who do not maintain hygiene regularly; Ž Schools should enter upon measures for uprooting the unhygienic habits among children of school age; • Humanitarian activities of the already existing ambulance and pharmacy and of other foundation should be strengthened; • Programme for organised vaccination and immunisation of all children; ‘ Organisation of not only preventive care for this population, but also of health assistance to families with children already affected with some of the diseases; ’ Increased and improved protection of infants and small children through projects and programmes accessible for this population; “ Advisory Centre for Health Protection; ” Disabled children should be involved in the school system where they can gain qualifications for leading self-supporting life and provide rehabilitation for the physically disabled and children with mental disabilities; • Preparation of precise and detailed information on the situation with disabled children in the municipality in order to shield them through their coverage by the forms of social protection system. 71
4. EDUCATIONAL STATUS Education of Roma children represents important factor in overcoming the status of social vulnerability. In the study education was studied through four parameters, as follows: Ø Children's attendance in preschool institutions; Ø Children's school attendance; Ø Most common impediments for school attendance and accomplishments; Ø Educational status of children over 18 years of age (young adults).
Here we should emphasise that the school results of pupils are not subject of our research, since the competent state institutions (two primary schools in Shuto Orizari: "Brothers Ramiz and Hamid" and "26th of July" so as the Pedagogic Institute of the Republic of Macedonia) are in possession of accessible data about it.
4.1. Children's attendance in pre-school institutions
In Shuto Orizari there is one kintergarden and several pre-school groups within the framework of the two primary schools. Also, the Centre for Social Initiatives "Hope" within the Project of the Open Society Institute of the Republic of Macedonia and King Baudouin Foundation - Denmark, among other educational activities, realises Programme for Preschool Education for children of this age group. Despite of that, children's attendance in pre-school institutions (state or through projects) is very low. Namely, 86,30% (1.927 children) are not involved in these forms of education and care. This percentage is even higher with children from 0-3 years of age 97,15%. According to the statements of the parents, only 1,57% of the children up to 3 years of age attends preschool institution.
Table 17. Children's attendance in preschool institutions, age and gender Children's attendance in preschool institutions Age Attending state institution Attending through projects Not attending Total M F M F M F 0-3 12 23 4 2 664 522 1.227 (0.54%) (1.03%) (0.18%) (0.09%) (29.64%) (23.30%) (54.78%) 4-7 83 71 64 54 385 356 1.013 (3.71%) (3.17%) (2.86%) (2.41%) (17.19%) (15.89%) (45.22%) Total 95 94 68 56 1.049 878 2.240 (4.24%) (4.20%) (3.04%) (2.50%) (46.83%) (39.20%) (100%)
Only 8,44% of children (189) attend kintergrdens or preschool institutions, which together with the children engaged in programmes for children of preschool age 5,27% (118) (in the Youth Centre) represents small percentage. Taking into account that preparation for the first grade in primary school is of crucial importance for successful keep up with the school programmes, we may conclude that the starting position of 73,15% of children in the first grade, for that reason, is at lower stage for 741 children. To overcome this weakness, we propose both state and non- governmental institution to initiate actions and programmes to involve more children in 72 preschool education. In this direction, it is also necessary to involve parents, first of all mothers, in working and collaboration-based programmes.
FOTOGRAFIJA 19
Graph 15. Children's attendance in pre-school institutions
46.83 50 male female 45 39.2 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 4.24 4.2 3.04 2.5 5 0 attends state institution attends from project not attend
4.2. Children's school attendance 73
School attendance adds to the achievements at school. It is a precondition for all pupils, especially for Roma pupils who mainly lack learning conditions in their homes, to not only follow the lectures, but to learn considerable part of it while being at school. Data about school attendance were obtained from the parents. Here we should stress out that most of the surveyors are already engaged in realisation of educational programmes and thus have had chances to collaborate with the parents and their children, so their presence had remarcable influence on truthful answers. About 80,05% (2.107) pupils attend primary school. Compared to the respective conditions last year, the attendance is considerably increased, although this is due not only to the intensified influence from the schools and professional cadres working on non-governmental programmes, but also due to the possibility for children to receive school text-books free of charge, so as limitation of legislative rights for those who have no primary education. In parallel with the state, the non-governmental sector, within the projects, grants children books and teaching supplies.
About 82,01% of children attend school from 1st to 4th grade, while their percentage in the higher grades gradually reduces to 78,08%.
Table 18. Children's school attendance, age and gender
Children's school attendance Age Regularly Occasionally Do not attend Total M F M F M F 7-10 550 531 12 14 106 105 1.318 (14.57%) (14.07%) (0.32%) (0.37%) (2.81%) (2.78%) (34.91%) 11-14 560 466 25 15 101 147 1.314 (14.83%) (12.34%) (0.66%) (0.40%) (2.68%) (3.89%) (34.81%) 15-18 254 152 15 10 332 380 1.143 (6.73%) (4.03%) (0.40%) (0.26%) (8.79%) (10.07%) (30.28%) Total 1.364 1.149 52 39 539 632 3.775 (36.13%) (30.44%) (1.38%) (1.03%) (14.28%) (16.74%) (100%)
The percentage of children who attend school only occasionally (for justified or non-justified reasons) is not so high (1,75%). What is considerable is the percentage of children who are frequently absent at school or do not attend school at all (17,44%) or 459 children. In the lower grades there is no difference in school attendance between female and male children, while in the higher grades of primary school the increased absence of female pupils is noticeable.
This indicator should be noted down. We talk about 459 children who need attention and assistance in bringing them back to schools. 74
In regard to secondary education, the condition is much more frightening. It seems that the only goal of parents and their children is to complete primary education only, and to stop their education on that level. For them, having completed primary school is enough, insomuch as enables them to register in the Employment Bureau and thus exercise the right to social assistance.
Graph 16. Children's school attendance
36.13 40 30.44 male female 35
30
25 16.74 20 14.28
15
10 1.38 1.03 5
0 regulary occasionaly not attend
Also, entering examination for enrolment in the secondary schools used to place more restrictive criteria to pupils, meaning that Roma children had limited chances to enroll. From this year the entering examination has been cancelled, although still the basic criteria is the achieved school results. Pupils with completed primary school with best grades are the first in the lists who have better chances to succeed. This criterion also reduces the chances for enrolment of Roma children in appropriate secondary schools. Therefore, activities should be developed to work on the improvement of the primary school results through additional programmes for improvement of the learning conditions and assistance in learning.
Only 35,52% of children attend secondary school, here pointing out that the number of male pupils is higher 22,22% (254), while female pupils attend secondary school in only 13,30% (152). The percentage of those who do not attend secondary school is much higher 62,29% (712). The percentage of female pupils who do not attend school is again higher than with male pupils 33,25% (380). For these girls who do not attend school their future chances to ever find 75 employment are reduced. As a consequence most of them stay at home engaged in assisting mothers in household keeping, or get married at an early age.
The vulnerable position of Roma teenage girls in view of their education is not a new problem. Same problem existed in the past when the number of girls who did not attend school was even lower. Therefore, a comprehensive activities (work with youth, parents, professionals from state and non-governmental institutions) with a purpose of engaging as higher as possible number of Roma children, female at first, in the secondary education, should be developed and applied in practice.
4.3. Most common impediments for school attendance and accomplishments
Only 4,42% of the parents declare that there are objective impediments for the school accomplishments of their children. The rest of them believe that their children have learning conditions provided and are in general satisfied of their success. The parent's statements in most cases referred to primary school pupils. The most dominant impediment for school attendance and accomplishments brought up is the poverty in 18,86% (712 pupils), which as an impediment usually refers to secondary school pupils. Poverty does not imply only lack of finances to purchase text-books (the state partially solved that problem by providing them free of charge), but it is related to expenditures for school supplies and readings, cloths and shoes, snacks and other expences on the burden of children or required by the teaching programmes. Very often older children assist their parents in providing family's existence or in taking care of the younger siblings, especially when their parents are absent. Poverty is frequent cause why children become involved in black-marketing and work abuse when their parents or subordinates do not allow them to attend school.
Table 19. Most common impediments for school accomplishments, age and gender
Impediments for school accomplishments Lack of self- Age Poverty Prohibition Engaged by Other Total by parents parents control and control by parents M F M F M F M F M F 7-10 99 105 5 10 2 12 52 54 30 35 404 (2.62) (2.78) (0.13) (0.26) (0.05) (0.32) (1.38) (1.43) (0.79) (0.93) (10.70%) 11-14 109 104 7 11 7 20 68 70 38 41 475 (2.89) (2.75) (0.19) (0.29) (0.19) (0.53) (1.80) (1.85) (1.01) (1.09) (12.58%) 15-18 154 141 5 24 22 29 118 97 91 117 798 (4.08) (3.74) (0.13) (0.64) (0.58) (0.77) (3.13) (2.57) (2.41) (3.10) (21.14%) Total 362 350 17 45 31 61 238 221 159 193 1.677 (9.59) (9.27) (0.45) (1.19) (0.82) (1.62) (6.30) (5.85) (4.21) (5.11) (44.42)
Insomuch as the education is the main factors of children's future life, we shall again conclude that data referring education point out the fact that nowadays there is noticeable increase in 76 children's attendance in primary schools. Competent factors and institutions should continue stimulate this raising tendency, providing conditions and assistance in learning to pupils outside their parent's home (if lacking conditions), in the schools and in the Youth Centre and within other NGO's Programmes.
Compared to primary school situation, attendance to secondary schools is still inadequate, especially for female children. What we would recommend to state institutions and non- governmental foundations is to invest efforts for stimulation of school attendance for this category of children. This could be done through granting scholarships, actions of assistance in the periods of school enrolment, providing textbooks free of charge, financial compensations for school supplies, allowances for bus transport and so on. On the other hand, there are also possibilities to organise different types of activities with parents about creating conditions for learning in the children's homes; to open a Centre for Leisure Activities of Youth that will implement cultural, artistic, educational and recreational activities, courses for foreign languages, courses in computer literacy and so on. In this regard, the summer period should not be bypassed. Summer is a period when appropriate programmes for organised leisure activities and engagement in working actions for improvements in the living environment could productively be organised.
In this direction the working activities with parents would not be overlooked. These may involve: work on their literacy and emancipation, engagement in actions and programmes in order to become aware of the importance and usefulness of education and schooling, to influence changes in inherited attitudes among their children that primary education is the outermost goal, and that secondary and higher education are nonessential (through programmes for coffee meetings, discussion groups, parent's advises and counseling, neighborly assistance, activities and so on).
4.4. Educational status of children over 18 years of age
The educational status of children over 18 years of age is even worse. Majority of the young adults have completed only primary school 50,38% (464), but the number of those who are illiterate and who have not completed primary education is also considerable 34,31% (316). 85% of the young adults enter these categories.
This emphasises not only the low educational level, but also unproductive perspectives of the Roma young generation. Youth with low educational level can hardly find employment neither in the state nor in the private sector, thus having no possibilities to earn for living. What adds to this unfavorable condition is that at present the process of automatic production reduces the need for unqualified labour.
What is important is that young people with this level of education have no realistic possibilities to regularly attend secondary schools, while every other schooling, which leads towards 77 acquiring qualifications, needs to be paid for. Young Romas in most cases have no realistic chances to finance such schooling.
Many of them, girls specifically, either go abroad or enter into marriages at early age, have children and thus become even more endangered. This condition imposes the necessity for them to accept lowest paid jobs, herein including black-marketing.
In view of the secondary education the situation is even worse. Only 13,57% (125) have completed secondary education. Of them 8,79% (81) are male and 4,78% (44) are female children. Most of them have no chances to continue their education, nor find employment.
Graph 17. Education of children over 18 years of age
33.44 35
30 male female 25
20 16.94
15 11.51 10.53 8.79 10 7.71 4.56 4.78 5 0.76 0.76 0.22 0 0 uncompleted uncompleted secondary illiterate primary high primary school secondary school school
Still, although it is not very numerous, this part of the group of young adults should become engaged in realisation of many actions and programmes of NGO's designed to improve learning and education of children of school age, in health and educational activities with adults, first of all with mothers, as well as in actions of ecological character at the territory of the community.
Possibilities for involving young people in secondary schools and those Romas with acquired secondary education in Faculties, should also be created. To that end, a library with reading- room where there would be favorable conditions for learning and reading could be useful on the territory of the municipality.
For young Romas computer literacy courses, courses for drivers, foreign languages and other skills, would be of great importance. Although they could acquire this form of education in the 78
Public universities and similar institutions, lacking finances in covering expenses in most cases is the basic obstacle to enroll.
Furthermore, such courses could be organised on the territory of the municipality provided that enrolling conditions will be adjusted to the realistic possibilities of Roma youth.
4.5. Summary of important findings
EDUCATIONAL STATUS OF ROMA CHILDREN
Children's attendance in pre-school institutions è attends state institutions (kintergardens and nurseries) 6,88% (154) è attends from projects 5,27% (118) è does not attend pre-school institutions 86,30% (1.933)
Children's school attendance è attends school regularly 66,57% (2.513) è does not attend school (from 7-18 years of age) 31,02% (1.171) è does not attend school (from 7-14 years of age) 12,16% (459)
Most common impediments for school attendance and accomplishments è poverty in the family 18,86% (712) è lack of selfcontrol and control by parents 12,15% (459) è prohibition by parents 1,64% (62) è engaged by parents 2,44% (92)
Educational status of children aged over 18 è illiterate 12,27% (113) è uncompleted primary education 22,04% (203) è primary education 50,38% (464) è secondary education 13,57% (125).
4.6. Recommendations
Œ Both state and non-governmental institutions should initiate actions and programmes to involve more children in preschool education (where they will be provided possibilities to learn the Macedonian language and prepare for the first grade of primary school in kintergardens, 79 nurseries and through projects realised by NGO's); and involve parents, first of all mothers in working and collaboration programmes; • Activities should be developed to work on the improvement of the primary school results through additional programmes for improvement of the learning conditions and assistance in learning; Ž Comprehensive action (work with youth, parents, professionals from state and non- governmental institutions) with a purpose of engaging children, female at first, in the secondary education; • Competent factors and institutions should continue stimulate the increase in the children's attendance in primary schools, providing conditions and assistance in learning; • Efforts should be invested in stimulating female children to attend schools through granting scholarships, actions of assistance in the period of school enrolment, providing textbooks free of charge, financial compensations for school supplies, allowances for bust transport and so on; ‘ Organisation of different types of activities with parents about creating conditions for learning in the homes; work on their literacy and emancipation, engagement in actions and programmes in order to become aware of the importance and usefulness of education and schooling (through programmes for coffee meetings, discussion groups, parent's advises and counseling, neighborly assistance, actions and so on); ’ Open Centre for Educational and Leisure Activities of Youth that will implement cultural, artistic educational and recreational activities, courses for foreign languages, courses in computer literacy and so on; “ Involving young adults in evening schools and creating learning conditions; ” Establishment of a library and a reading room.
5. BREASTFEEDING AND NUTRITION OF CHILDREN
5.1. Breastfeeding
To the question whether mothers have breast-fed their children and how long in average, we received answers that only 11,73% (349) mothers have not breast-fed their children. The most common reasons for that are the biological inability to breast-feed and the status of adopted children. The greatest percentage of mothers 44,94% (1.337) has in average breast-fed their children from 4-12 months (breast milk in this period of the baby's life is for most of them the only nutrition).
The number of mothers who breast-feed their children for one, two and even more years 32,7% (973) is also notable. In this period, apart from breast-feeding, they usually give same food they consume to their children as additional nutrition. When it comes to Roma mothers in more than half of them breast-feeding is deemed to be basic food for their children. Although being aware of the importance of natural quality of the breast milk, the economic impoverishment of the family supports her attitude to breast-feed her children as long as possible, sometimes up to the next pregnancy, although this also requires for the mother to consume high quality food. In most 80 cases mothers do not specifically prepare food for their small children. Instead of that they feed them with the same food consumed by other family members.
Young mothers in this respect should be covered by education about the importance of the breast milk, but also about the quality and methods of preparing quality food for their children (for example, there were cases reported of mothers masticating food and afterwards nourishing their children with it). The need for training and advisory services provided to mothers is also present.
5.2. Consummation of cooked meal
Roma mother most often prepares cooked meals for the family members. It is part of the traditional attitude of Romas towards food. Cooked meal is one of the major components of the family customs and rituals, and often basic indicator that the family effectuates means for living. What is typical for Roma women is that they can easily manage humble quantity of nutritional product and prepare quality food (pies, boiled meals, soups).
The research showed that majority of children consumes cooked food every day prepared by their mothers 53,67% (3.228 children). Also notable is the number of children whose mothers prepare cooked meals several times a week 28,88% (1.737 children). In these cases they consume same type of food for couple of days. Children from primary school age in 54,67% (1.439) consume cooked meals prepared every day, while in 28,04% (738) consume same cooked meal for couple of days. Already cooked meal to be consumed the next day is being kept in fridge. Only in 0,73% (44) children at school age do not consume cooked meal at all or live in families where mothers do not cook at all. We assume that these are children of the most poorest families which lack conditions for preparation of food in their homes, or their mothers are engaged outside their homes all day long and beg. Poor families are also those who cook only once a week 15,68% (943) and consume the same food for three or more days. About 455 children in school age usually consume cooked meal prepared once a week or have no chance to consume cooked meals at all.
Based on the above may be recommended for the schools to create conditions for the pupils to consume hot meal at least several times a week. Also, humanitarian organisations and foundations dedicated to assistance to Romas could deliver nutritional supplies as part of their humanitarian assistance (such as flavor, oil, sugar and so on) which they would use for home preparation of food. 81
5.3. Summary of important findings
Breast-feeding è children from 4-12 months are breast-fed in 44,94% (1.337) è children from 13-24 months are breast-fed in 24,87% (740)
Consumation of cooked meals è children consume cooked meals every day in 58,64% (3.527) è children do not consume cooked meals in 1,46% (88) è children in school age consume cooked meal every day in 59,57% (1.568) è children in school age do not consume cooked meal not even once a week in 14,48% (381) è children in pre-school age consume cooked meal every day in 57,55% (583), while in 13,82% (140) children in pre-school age consume cooked meal once a week.
5.4. Recommendations
Œ Organisation of education for young mothers about proper attitude towards breast-feeding and nutrition of children, about the importance of breast mis and the quality and methods of preparing quality food for their children; • Organisation of hot meals in schools, kintergardens and institutions (NGO's) where children reside part of the day; Ž Assistance planed by humanitarian organisations for the poor families would be more useful to them if involves nutritional products; this will reduce their expenditures for preparation of food and will enable them to prepare food for the whole family in cost-efficient way.
6. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL VULNERABILTIY OF ROMA CHILDREN
In studying the economic vulnerability of the Roma family in the preceding Chapters the attention was paid in more details to the economic conditions, which are with no doubt important indicator of the vulnerability of Roma children. However, it was considered that here more extensive data about the economic standard of the families where children live and about the engagement of children in income-generating activities should be presented. 82
6.1. Economic vulnerability of Roma children
The economic status of Romas in comparison with the wider societal community is characterised with the lowest living standards and almost complete absence of the middle class. According to the statistical information on 30th of March 1996, Roma job seekers participate with 4,7% in the total number of job seekers in the Republic of Macedonia. This condition affects families to earn only minimal and irregular incomes.
The research evidenced, based on the parents's statements, that the highest percentage of families live with monthly financial budget of 101-150 DM (924 families), although the percentage of those living with 100 DM monthly is not small 17,62% (550 families), families with 151-200 DM per month 17,26% (539), or in other words 64,48% of the families live with monthly incomes of 100-200 DM.
FOTOGRAFIJA 20
As regards the number of children in the families, the survey explicates that families with more children (6 and over) live in much poorer conditions compared to other families. About 909 (29,12%) families live with no regular minimal source of incomes or with only 100 DM per month. Families with 3-5 children (this is the average number of children in the Roma families) in highest percentage 36,35% (357) live with 101-150 DM as average monthly income, while 18,74% (184) families live with irregular incomes or incomes amounting up to 100 DM per month.
Although very low, income in the family is usually spent on food supplies. This was attested by the answer to question what is the money in the family most commonly spent on, when 86,48% (2.700) families declared that food is the main extractor of the budget in the family. 83
This condition makes parents refer to Centres for Social Work and claim for social assistance benefit in cash which is provided to socially endangered families based on the Law on Social Protection and the Governmental Programme for Protection of Socially Endangered Population.
In Shuto Orizari 52,18% (1.629) families are recipients of benefits in cash, of whom majority are young couples with one or two children 48,82% or 1.018 families (for the category of families from 1-2 children) and 32,61% (from the total number of children). To become beneficiary of social assistance each applicant must undergo means testing done by the Centres for Social Work. The applicant should fill in a form and submit: Macedonian citizenship, registration document from the Employment Bureau, document which indicates the family properties, birth certificates for all family members, marriage certificate, declaration that the family is not in a possession of a vehicle, receipt from the Employment Bureau that the applicant is unemployed, or if employed, receipt on the amount of wage.
Table 20. Social endangerment and number of children in the families Social endangerment and number of children in the families YES Number Registered in the Potential Not registered due of Centre for Social to lack of NO Total children Work as recipients documents or of benefits in cash citizenship 1-2 1.018 330 356 381 2.085 (32.61%) (10.57%) (11.40%) (12.20%) (66.78%) 3-5 573 123 120 166 982 (18.35%) (3.94%) (3.84%) (5.32%) (31.45%) 6-8 37 5 9 1 52 (1.19%) (0.16%) (0.29%) (0.03%) (1.67%) Over 8 1 0 2 0 3 (0.03%) (0.00%) (0.06%) (0.00%) (0.10%) Total 1.629 458 487 548 3.122 (52.18%) (14.67%) (15.60%) (17.55%) (100%)
The amount of the social assistance is determined according to the number of the family members, thus varying from 24-63 US$ per month (24 US$ for 1 member-family, 33 US$ for two-member family, 42 US$ for three-member family and 54 US$ for four-member family). The vulnerability of Roma families which is a result of the low living standard forces majority of those who apply for benefits in cash to abandon life in three-generation families, divide young from old couples, this only because it is the only possible way which increases their chances to receive social assistance. It happens that the extended multi-generation family living under same roof becomes transformed into two or more families, although in our opinion and based on the insight in the families it is only fictively since most of them still live and eat together as part of one household. This way of life means that the family budget is increased. 84
In the municipality there is also a considerable percentage of Roma families (usually poorer and with more children) which although endangered, are not recipients of benefits in cash due to lacking proper documents (citizenship, birth certificates) because they or their children, if born somewhere out of Skopje, are usually not registered and this makes it more difficult for them to issue these documents.
The competent social protection institution (The Centre for Social Work) so as the Internal Affairs Office in the regional unit of Shuto Orizari should assist these families in issuing documents if all the requirements for effectuation of the right to benefits in cash are met.
FOTOGRAFIJA 21
Apart from the social assistance for unemployed, Centres for Social Work also give permanent financial assistance to persons with working disability living alone, elders who have no family (aged over 65), single parents without incomes, to children without parents at regular schooling (for 1 member - 1.953,00 denars; for 2 members - 2.724,00 denars, for 3 or more members 3.906 denars).
We may conclude that majority of population in Shuto Orizari lives with the money received in a form of benefits in cash and permanent financial assistance, so as from the money received from the Employment Bureau, all provided by the state.
Up to now beneficiaries of these forms of assistance are not being engaged (by the Centres for Social Work or by the municipality itself) in any activities by which they could contribute to the betterment of the living conditions in the municipality or meeting population needs on the territory of the municipality. Their engagement would be of great use and would have huge influence in changing their attitudes in positive direction that received assistance should be returned by services to the community they live in. 85
6.2. Children engaged by parents
In search for financial means for minimal existence some parents engage their children in different forms of work. At the age between 7-18 years, the research showed, parents engage 2,44% of the children or 62 children. Instead of spending the day in school they are forced to sell on the black market or are engaged in washing car windscreens, carpets and soon. The percentage of engaged children is not so high since parents engage their children in assisting them in their everyday work but do not find nor appriciate their efforts as contribution to the total financial means of the family.
6.3. Children who beg
About 2,47% or 77 children are forced to beg. When begging is present in the family usually all family members beg, both parents and their children. Children do not go to school and spend most of the day outside their homes, dressed up in thiny worn-out clothes and exposed to different weather conditions. They get used to living in the street as their close environment and find difficult to accept re-socialisation in a natural environment. Not rarely children beg as a result of being induces by the older leaders of different gangs to whom they must give all money earned, and which will subsequently probably be spent on drugs and alcohol.
The abuse and neglect of Roma children is a warning sign that efforts must be made (by the state and by the NGO's) to open Day-care Centres for Children or Youth Centres as well as other forms directed towards stamping out of this negative tendency. In other words, children should be provided conditions to constructively spend their free time in useful activities through which they will at the same time undergo the process of socialisation.
6.4. Deliquency and substance abuse among Roma children
Delinquency is present among children in Shuto Orizari, but it is negligible if bearing in mind the total population of the municipality. From the parents we received information that 12 children, of whom 10 are over 15 years of age, are delinquents. All of them are registered in the corespondent department in the Centres for Social Work, while application of appropriate measures for their rehabilitation is under way.
The presence of children drug or alcohol addicted is also negligible. The survey revealed only 4 children aged over 15 as consumers of drug and 7 children in the same age who are alcohol consumers. In any case, this number can not be disregarded if these children's adverse influences to the closer environment are taken into account.
In view of drug or alcohol addiction among youth, we may conclude that it is not very high, maybe partially as a result of the fact that information about presence of this problem was given by parents. In any case, surveyors were professionals who have worked on that area and are quite familiar with the problems of the population. Here we should add that we have information 86 that considerable number of Romas work on the black market, so we may suppose that some of them are involved in drug-trade, which additionally makes the drug abuse problem more dangerous. Yet, the research encountered obstacles in reaching realistic data about this problems.
This community should be considered as community at risk in terms of drug and alcohol addiction, where professional approach in elimination of these vices would be of use.
6.5. Children with deceased or absent parent
Social endangerment is often the root cause for children living in deficient families (caused by parent's death, divorce or abandonment of the family). In such family only one parent contributes and maintains the economic power of the family. In addition to this, the parent in order to earn means for existence is away from the home usually more than 10 hours, which places great number of children living in such families at risk.
Most commonly children become vulnerable due to the death of the parents. This is present in 3,08% (214 deceased parents). In light of the fact that Roma family has in average 3-4 children, we may conclude that about 824 children live only with one parent. Deceased fathers are more present 2.16% (150) than mothers 0.92% (64).
The condition in the families with deceased fathers, compared to those with deceased mothers, is much worse. In the past, in such circumstances, the extended family would usually take over the care both for the children and the mother. In the contemporary living conditions widowers live day by day alone with their children. For them it is much more difficult to find employment, and even if they do, their work is usually unqualified and low-paid. As a result of the economic crisis the extended family does not assist single parents at all. On the top of it, many families do not exercise the right to family pension and for them the only way out of the crisis is the effectuation of the right to benefits in cash. Children from such families in most cases early abandon schools, sometimes despite of their wish to continue schooling, and become engaged together with the mother in search for minimal earnings (here including the prostitution).
In Roma family the patriarchal way of life, moral and ethnic culture are still dominant. Nonetheless, many families can not oppose negative sides of contemporary transitional relations, can not tolerate and overcome problems present in the family day by day. Disharmonic relations between the spouses result in divorces or in abandonment of the family by one of them. In these cases when only one parent is absent children usually stay with their mothers. 87
Table 21. Children with deceased or absent parents per children's age Deceased or absent parent Age of Deceased parent Absent father Absent mother Total children Father Mother Divorce Abroad Other Divorce Abroad other 0-6 3 3 57 13 38 24 5 9 152 (0.04%) (0.04%) (0.82%) (0.19%) (0.55%) (0.35%) (0.07%) (0.13%) (2.19%) 7-10 13 8 40 14 24 21 6 10 136 (0.19%) (0.12%) (0.58%) (0.20%) (0.35%) (0.30%) (0.09%) (0.14%) (1.96%) 11-15 34 16 67 12 27 29 6 25 216 (0.49%) (0.23%) (0.97%) (0.17%) (0.39%) (0.42%) (0.09%) (0.36%) (3.11%) Over 15 100 37 55 15 42 40 12 19 320 (1.44%) (0.53%) (0.79%) (0.22%) (0.61%) (0.58%) (0.17%) (0.27%) (4.61%) Total 150 64 219 54 131 114 29 63 824 (2.16%) (0.92%) (3.16%) (0.78%) (1.89%) (1.64%) (0.42%) (0.91%) (11.88%)
Relative to the cases of divorce 3,16% (219) fathers had abandoned the family and in most cases had formed a new one, have children from the second marriage and are not in position to look after them, not to mention children from the former marriage.
Research displayed that 1,64% (114) mothers had also abandoned the family after the divorce, had gotten married and have children from the second marriage. In the past patriarchal relations were such that they were regulators of the relations after the break down of one's marriage. Namely, children would in most cases stay with the father or in the father's family. This way, it used to be easier for the Roma mother to enter into second marriage or to stay in her parent's home where her parents would look both after her and her children . Same applies to the divorced fathers to whom getting married is thus easier, even in spite of the fact that they already have children from the previous marriage.
Very present is also the absence of one of the parents because of working abroad. This is in the beginning initiated for the purpose of employment. The distance from the family, so as the fact that finding employment abroad (in the foreigh countris such as Germany, France, Italy) is not a short-term process, and if they do find employment they usually work on less-paid jobs, is the reason for them to loose touch with the family and stop taking care of it, first of all of their children. There are 1,20% (83 parents), majority of them fathers 0,78% (54 fathers) who work aborad.
In the community of Shuto Orizari a lot of the marriages are illegal (especially for the underaged couples), regulated in the framework of the custom right only and the Muslim religious community. If proven not successful in the same way they separate. Such marriage breakdowns are present in 2,8% (194 families). In this cases children remain with their mothers (1,89% or 131 absent fathers), or with their fathers in cases in 0,91% (63 absent mothers). Establishment of an Advisory service in the municipality, which will serve these parents, would strengthen their parental roles. 88
6.6. Children under guardianship and foster family care
Children in 11,88% (824 children) live with only one of the parents. They are all in position of risk. Many of them are consequently placed in position to quit schooling, become engaged by their parents in search for earnings or are left over to deviant and anti-social behaviors (begging, prostitution, vagabonding or work abuse). The number of 824 children shows that in average 2.472 to 3.296 children live in endangered conditions, meaning that the society must find ways, means and forms to assist these families.
Some of the most present forms of protection of children are: the guardianship (by the grandparents), placement in foster family or in institution, such as orphanage. In 1,77% (123 children) are placed under some of the abovementioned forms of social protection. In the community of Shuto Orizari, although big number of non-governmental humanitarian organisations and religious communities are active, none of them takes over the care for these children. In 1,67% (116 children) are looked after by their grandparents who live only from their modest pensions or are with no regular incomes, thus having to day by day work in order to provide financial means for children's existence.
Table 22. Children without parents and parental care looked after in the families per children's age
Children without parents and parental care looked after in the families Age of Grandchildren-guardianship Children taken by the Total children Centre for Social Work Registered Not registered Registered 0-6 7 (0.10%) 14 (0.20%) 3 (0.04%) 24 (0.35%) 7-10 4 (0.06%) 12 (0.17%) 0 (0.00%) 16 (0.23%) 11-15 11 (0.16%) 25 (0.36%) 4 (0.06%) 40 (0.58%) Over 15 10 (0.14%) 33 (0.48%) 0 (0.00%) 43 (0.62%) Total 32 (0.46%) 84 (1.21%) 7 (0.10%) 123 (1.77%) At present, in the community of Shuto Orizari the form of foster family care begins to be more commonly used. It means that children are given into care and upbringing in other family, which for the service receives benefits in cash from the state (The Centre for Social Work). These are usually families with better housing conditions and who are in realistic position, despite care for their own, to provide care for the foster children. Professionals from the competent department in the Centre for Social Work, reviews the families applicants for foster care, makes the selection and follow-up regular supervision over the family and its capability to perform the functions taken in hand. These families are also recipients of benefits in cash, while children under guardianship are health insured. 89
FOTOGRAFIJA 22
We find this form of social protection of children without parents and parental care more appropriate. Therefore it should be upgraded and more frequently present in providing protection for children from this category in this municipality.
6.7. Children placed in social institutions
In the town of Skopje and in the Republic of Macedonia, there are several types of social institutions for social protection of children and youth. In comparison with the past, nowadays more Roma children are being placed in institutions. Information speaks that 0,37% (22) children are placed in institutions. The present institutions are listed in the Table below.
Majority of children placed in orphanages is children without parents and parental care. There are 7 children placed in foster family, 6 in the NGO "Mother Theresa" in Shuto Orizari and 3 in the Orphanage "11 October" in Skopje. Still and all, there is an impression that not all the children in position of social need are placed in appropriate institutions, for what further research will be required.
Only 3 children attend special school, which is not so considerable, compared to the 86 children with mental disabilities found through the research. All possible factors should be engaged in overcoming this problem, since this category of children has right to dignified way of life same to those enjoyed by other children.
Judging after the statements of parents, there are only 3 children with behavioral problems placed in institutions, although we received information from the Centre for Social Work that there are 12 such children. Yet, we deem it more useful for these children not to be placed in institution, but preferably under foster family care where the foster parents will have motivation and capabilities to look after and help this category of children. 90
Table 23. Children's age and placement in social institutions
Institutions Children's age 0-3 4-6 7-14 15-18 Total Home for children without parents and 2 0 0 0 2 parental care - 11 Oktomvri - Skopje (0.03%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.03%)
Foster family care 1 1 2 0 4 (0.02%) (0.02%) (0.03%) (0.00%) (0.07%) NGO Mother Theresa and other 1 0 3 2 humanitarian organisations 6 (0.02%) (0.00%) (0.05%) (0.03%) (0.10%) Special schools for mentally disabled, 0 0 2 1 3 deaf-dumb-blind children (7-14 years) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.03%) (0.02%) (0.05%) Rehabilitation institution for children 0 0 0 0 0 with moderate mental disability - Chair - (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) Skopje Institutions for deaf, dumb and 0 0 1 1 physically disabled 2 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.02%) (0.02%) (0.03%) Ljubanci - secondary school for 0 0 0 0 0 residential care of children - Skopje (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) Ranka Milanovich - Institute for re- 0 0 0 1 1 socialisation and education of (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.02%) (0.02%) delinquent children - Skopje 25 of May - Institute for re-socialisation 0 0 0 2 2 of children with behavioral problems - (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.03%) (0.03%) Skopje Juvenile prison - Tetovo 0 0 0 0 0 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) Institution for profound mentally 0 0 2 0 2 disabled - Demir Kapija (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.03%) (0.00%) (0.03%) Total 4 1 10 7 22 (0.07%) (0.02%) (0.17%) (0.12%) (0.37%)
It would be very important if a multidimensional institution for Roma children where they would spend their free time, but also would be provided assistance in their education and acquiring professional qualifications, would be established. Such a Centre could create opportunities for educational, social - cultural and recreational activities and directing young children's strengths towards positive and useful activities. 91
6.8. Summary of important findings ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITY OF ROMA CHILDREN Economic vulnerability of Roma children è 47,22% of the Roma families have disposable 100-150 DM per month; è 11,50% of the Roma families lives with no regular minimal source of incomes; è 67,27% of the families with more than five children live with regular incomes or with incomes up to 150 DM per month; è income in the family is usually spent on food supplies; è 2,44% (62 children) are engaged by parents.
Social assistance è 69,09% of the families with 6 or more than 6 children are recipients of social assistance; è 58,35% of the families with 3-5 children are recipients of social assistance; è 48,82% of the families with 1-2 children are recipients of social assistance; è majority of the families lives with some kind of benefits granted by the state;
Begging è 2,47% (77 children) beg;
Deliquency è 0,17% (12) children are registered in the Centre for social work as delinquents and children with behavioral problems;
Addiction è 0,05% (4) children are registered as drug addicted; è 0,12% (7) children are registered as alcohol addicted;
Single parents è 3,08% (214) are children with deceased father or mother; è 2,16% (150) are children with deceased father; è 4,8% (333) are children of divorced parents; è 11,88% (824) are children without parents or parental care and of single parents;
Guardianship è 0,10% (7) children are placed under guardianship or foster family care; è 1,93% (116) children live with their grandparents;
Special schools and social institutions è 0,37% (22) children are placed in social institutions; è 0,13% (5) children aged from 7-18 are placed in special schools or institutions for blind or hard of hearing children; è 86 children have some kind of psychological or physical disability. 92
Œ Ministry of Labour and Social policy6.9. Recommendationsand the Centre for Social Work who allocates benefits in cash should consider enacting some kind of regulations which will oblige the beneficiaries to participate in programmes such as: advancement of the life in the community (ecological programmes, working activities of communal character, social programmes and so on); • The Centre for Social Work so as the Internal Affairs Office in the regional unit of Shuto Orizari should assist families in: a) issuing documents if all the requirements for effectuation of the right to benefits in cash are met; b) assist families with other social problems; Ž Employment programmes for the population should also be designed (for example home washing services, ironing services, services for sewing and chemical cleaning); • The abuse and neglect of Roma children is a warning sign that efforts must be made (by the state and non-governmental organisations) to open Day-care Centres for Children or Youth Centres; • Establishment of a Counseling service for single parents which will contribute to the strengthening of their parental roles; ‘ Foster family care as a form of social protection of children without parents and parental care should be more applies and more frequently present; ’ To compensate for the missing warmth of the parents' home organised activities of assistance should be initiated for children looked after by their grandparents or placed in foster families; “ A multidimensional institution for Roma children where they would spend their free time, but also would be provided assistance in their education and acquiring professional qualifications should be established; ” Several Youth Centres should operate on the territory of the municipality, not only from the aspect of assistance in learning in cases of lacking favorable conditions for that in their homes, but also day centres for sport and recreation where in planed and organised way youth could spend their free time, under guidance and supervision of professionals and Roma activists, and would be involved in many useful and constructive activities. Within the Centres small working units could be established where young people could work and earn their pocket money. These activities could be organised about maintaining communal hygiene or in the domain of service delivery; • Organised involvement of children with mental and physical disabilities in special primary and secondary schools.
7. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND RECCOMENDATIONS
DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS
The study is mainly directed towards analysis of the vulnerability of Roma children in the municipality of Shuto Orizari (Skopje), where 6.936 Roma children live or 49,64% of the total Roma population. Majority of children is in school age 54,42% (3.775) of whom 37,95% (2.632) is primary school pupils. 93
Most endangered regions in the municipality are 1, 5 and 6 where more than half of the children lives (56,38% or 1.627 children). Majority of them is at school age 43,76% (2.632 children).
Improvements and implementation of population policy through educational courses and advisory services is needed in this respect.
HOUSING AND COMMUNAL CONDITIONS
Majority of children lives in solid construction houses, while 5,29% (165 children) lives in improvised houses (made of plastic, carton); 22,20% (1.467) lives in dilapidated and montage houses 27,49% (1.632), predominantly in houses with only two living premises (including kitchen and bathroom) and in housing space limited to 2-5m2 per member.
The communal policy of the municipality should advance the communal conditions through providing opportunities for credits, grants or construction materials. The final urbanistic plan of the municipality should be produced.
HYGIENIC CONDITIONS Children from 19,35% (604) families live in poor hygienic conditions, while 700 families (22,42%) insufficiently use minimal hygienic supplies and washing cleansers.
The hygiene as a basis for healthy life requires increased assistance from humanitarian donators in a form of hygienic supplies.
HELATH INSURANCE, PREVENTION AND STATE OF VULNERABILITY
Majority of children is health insured 78,79% (4.739 children), although still considerable number is health uninsured 21,21% (1.276 children) of whom 38,17% is in school age and 25,55% is aged 0-3.
Health insurance scheme provides for free of charge examinations with a certain amount of financial participation required. However, since most of the medicines in the list of free of charge medicines are in deficit in pharmacies, citizens are often placed in position to have to pay for them.
Humanitarian foundations and donors should in this regard support the activities of the already existing ambulance and pharmacy all in order to provide for the increased access to health services for the population. Medical institutions should make annual medical examinations of school-age children and members of their families.
The greatest number of children has been immunised and vaccinated 89,76% (5.399). Only 10,24% (616 children) have not undergone preventive health care procedure. 94
Among the acute diseases the bronchitis and the respiratory diseases are the most present (7,20% or 433 children) in the last and current year. Their presence is most frequent with children from 0-3 years of age 2,48% (149 children).
Among the contagious diseases the most present is the hepatitis suffered in the last and current year by 4,74% or 285 children, prevailably of school age 2,34% (141 children).
The above stresses the need for organisation not only of preventive health care for this population, but also upgrading the health assistance to families with children already affected with some of the diseases. Roma children should also be provided possibilities for a winter and summer vacation at a mountain, lake or seashore.
The highest mortality is present immediately after the birth or in the period of early age from 0-3 years in 2,38% (143 children).
In this regard well-organised patronage service by the medical institutions (ambulances) will be indispensable.
The research revealed 0,57% (34) children with physical disabilities. Of them 0,22% (13) are blind children aged 0-18. Of these 13 children 10 are in school age but do not attend school. Furthermore, 0,42% (25) children are deaf or dumb of whom 20 are children in school age.
Children with physical disabilities should be involved in the school system in order to acquire qualifications and become enable to lead self-supporting life, although still organised cooperation and activities with their parents are also of crucial importance.
There are 68 children with mental disabilities. Almost one third of them are not categorised and do not attend specialised schools nor are placed under residential treatment and care.
It is more than urgent to prepare more precise and detailed information on the situation of these children and the knowledge and abilities of the parents to provide care for the specific needs of this category of children. This is due to their coverage by the forms of social protection system.
EDUCATIONAL VULNERABILITY
In Shuto Orizari there is one kindergarten and several preschool classes within the framework of the two primary schools on the territory of the municipality. Moreover, the Centre for Social Initiatives "Hope" within the framework of the Project of the Open Society Institute of the Republic of Macedonia and the King Baudouin Foundation - Denmark, realises Programme for Preschool Education of Children. In spite of that 86,30% (1.927 preschool children) are still not involved in the forms of preschool education and care. 95
Both state and non-governmental institutions should initiate actions and programmes for involving children and parents, especially mothers, in educational work and collaboration.
About 80,05% (2.107) school age children attend primary school. Compared with the last few years the number of attendants in primary schools increases.
Taking into account that 17,44% or 459 pupils are frequently absent at school or do not attend school, these pupils should be provided attention and assistance in bringing them back to school, by the joint efforts of both non-governmental organisations and schools.
Only 35,52% of the children over 15 years of age attend school (the highest percentage of them completes primary school for adults, while only a small percentage enrolls secondary school), of which female pupils are present in only 13,30%. For both boys and girls their future chances to ever find employment are reduced.
Comprehensive activities should be developed with a purpose of engaging children, female at first, in the secondary education (scholarships, bus transport tickets, school supplies).
The most dominant impediment for school attendance and accomplishments brought up in the study was the poverty present in 18,86% (712 children). Very often older children assist their parents in providing family's existence or in taking care of the younger siblings. Poverty is frequent cause why children become involved in black-marketing, when their parents or subordinates do not allow them to attend school.
Majority of the children over 18 years of age have completed only primary school 50,38% (464), although the number of those who are illiterate and who have not completed primary school is also considerable 34,31% (316). About 85% of the young adults enter in these categories. This is an indicator not only of the low educational level, but also of the unproductive perspectives of the young Roma generation. What is important is that young people with the lowest level of education have no realistic possibilities to regularly attend secondary school while every other training, which leads towards acquiring qualifications, needs to be paid for. Young Roma in most cases have no objective chances to finance such training. Many of them get married at an early age, have children and thus become even more endangered. This condition imposes the necessity for them to accept lowest paid jobs, herein including black-marketing.
In view of the above there should be organised campaigns for all young people who are illiterate or are without primary education to become involved in diploma-education (regular or part-time), courses and other educational forms in the already existing primary school "Makarenko" or the "Worker's University". Additionally, actions should be initiated for massive involvement of youth in vocational training (Worker's University, Secondary School "Dimitar Vlahov", Employment Bureau) and develop methods for their motivation to do so. 96
CHILDREN'S NUTRITION
The greatest percentage of mothers 44,94% (1.337) has in average breast-fed their children from 4-12 months. Notable number of mothers breast-feeds their children for one, two and even more years.
Young mothers should be covered by education and advisory work about the importance of the breast-feeding and also about the quality and ways of preparing nutritive food for their children.
The research showed that majority of children consumes cooked food prepared by their mothers every day 53,67% (3.228 children). The children from primary school age in 54,67% (1.439) consume cooked meals prepared every day. Only 0,73% (44) children at school age do not consume cooked meals at all. About 15,68% (943) families cook only once a week and consume the same food for three or more days.
It is recommendable, especially for the schools, to create conditions for the pupils to consume hot meals at least few times a week. Humanitarian organisations and foundations dedicated to assistance to the Roma population should provide the assistance in a form of delivery of nutritional products and supplies (flavor, oil, sugar and so on).
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITY
According to the statistical information in 1996 Roma job seekers participated with 4,7% in the total number of job seekers in the Republic of Macedonia. This condition affects families to earn only minimal income.
The highest percentage of families lives with monthly financial budget of 101-150 DM. In connection with this families with more children live in much poorer conditions compared with other families.
Most of the incomes in the families are usually spend on food supplies (86,48% - 2.700 families).
A lot of families are recipients of social benefits in cash; majority of them is young couples with children. The three-generation family, because of the need to meet the requirements for cash benefits, only fictively divides into two or three families.
Considerable percentage of Roma families (usually the poorest) is not recipients of social benefits in cash due to lacking proper documents (citizenship, birth certificates and so on). 97
The competent social institutions (The Centre for Social Work) so as the Internal Affairs Office in the regional unit (municipality) should assist these families in issuing required documents.
The majority of the population in Shuto Orizari lives with the social benefits in cash or permanent financial assistance in cash granted by the state and they are not yet engaged in any voluntary working activities by which they could contribute to the betterment of the living or ecological and communal conditions in the municipality.
In the search for financial means some parents engage their children (2,44% or 62 children) in different forms of low paid jobs (trade on the black market, work abuse). Considering the fact that this data were obtained by the statements of the parents, and although the surveyors were all well familiarised with the situation in field, we still believe that the number of these children is much bigger than presented.
About 2,47% (77) children are forced to beg.
The number of abused and neglected Roma children is a warning sign that efforts must be made by the state or non-governmental organisations for opening day-care centres as well as other forms directed towards stamping out of this negative tendency. The Centres could also offer its services to the drug or alcohol-addicted children or delinquents living on the territory of the municipality.
Economic and social vulnerability specifically affects children from deficient families where only one of the parents contributes to the family budget (11,88% or 824 children).
About 1,77% (123 children) are placed under some forms of child protection - guardianship.
We find foster family care the most appropriate form for children without parents and parental care and therefore recommend that strong support should be given to its further development.
For those grandparents who look after their grandchildren alone, organised advisory services and assistance should be at hand.
Taking into account that there are 86 children with mental disabilities in the municipality and that only 3% of them attend special school, all existing factors should be engaged in overcoming this problem.
It would be very important to organise multidimensional institutions for Roma children (such as Day Centres, Advisory Services, Sport Clubs and so on) where their free time will be organised, they will be assisted in learning and provided services in relation to the needs not only of the children but also of their families. 98
Appendix 1 Sample questionnaire (English version)
National Centre for Training in Social Development UNICEF Institute for Social Work and Social Policy UN Children's Fund Faculty of Philosophy - Skopje Skopje, Macedonia ______Questionnaire No. Housing - communal, health - educational and socio - economic conditions of the Roma families in the municipality of Shuto Orizari - Skopje
Date of conducting the survey ______Surveyor______Controller______(Name and Surname) (Name and Surname)
I. General data 1. Name and surname of the head of the family (the person providing the existence of the family) ______2. Address, telephone number______
3. Region I II III IV V VI
4. Occupation of the head of the family a) no occupation b) craft v) trade g) civil servant d) other
5. Number of family members a) Names of adults age b) Names of children age gender name of the mother______1. ______name of the father______2. ______name of the grandmother______3. ______name of the grandfather______4. ______5. ______6. ______7. ______8. ______9. ______10. ______99
II. Quality of the housing and communal conditions
6. Number of families living in a same house a) three and more b) two c) one
7. Quality of the housing a) improvised house b) dilapidated and montage house c) solid construction house
8. Housing space in m2 per member a) from 2-5m2 b) from 6-10 m2 c) over 11 m2
9. Number of living quarters used by the family a) one shared b) 2 quarters c) 3 and more
10. Sanitary facilities in the house a) toilet in the yard b) toilet in the house c) toilet with bathroom in the house
11. Sewerage condition a) none b) septic tank c) public
12. Water supply a) uses water from other places b) running water in the yard c) running water in the house
13. Water supply regularity a) none b) irregular c) regular
14. Quality of the street where the house is situated a) not paved b) partly paved c) paved
15. Lights in the street where the house is situated a) no streetlights b) rarely lined up lights c) lightened street 100
III. Health insurance and health conditions
16. Health insurance a) yes b) no c) partial
17. Contagious diseases with children and children's age Present age TBC Hepatitis Children's Rachitic Skin diseases Others contagious diseases Number of Number of children Number of children Number of children Number of children Number of children and children disease 0-3 4-6 7-14 15-18 Total:
18. Hygienic conditions in the family
a) poor hygienic conditions b) insufficient hygienic conditions c) satisfying hygienic conditions
19. Health insurance, immunization and vaccination and health conditions per children's age *In the "f and g" columns insert the first letter of the following categories: f) Disability: P - physical disability; B- blind; D - deaf; DU - dumb. g) Mental disability: P - profound; S - severe; M - moderate. *In the categorisation column insert X.
a) Health b) Health c) Regularly d) Irregularly e) Mortality f) Disability g) Mental disability Present insured uninsured vaccinated vaccinated age Number of Number of Number of Number of Number of Number of Number of categoris. children children children children children children + letter children + letter yes no 0-3 4-6 7-14 15-18 Total:
20. Bathe and hair cutting with children per age Age a) regular bathe (1-2 b) irregular bathe (not c) regular hair cutting d) irregular hair times a week) even once a week) (neat hair) cutting (messy hair) 0-3 4-6 7-14 15-18 Total: 101
21. Mother's age when having the first life-born child? a) under 12 b) 12-14 c) 15-18 d) above 18
22. Has the mother breast-fed her children? a) yes, how long (in months)______b) no
IV. Educational status, school attendance and accomplishments with pupils
23. Father's education a) illiterate b) uncompleted primary school c) primary school d) uncompleted secondary school e) secondary school f) high education
24. Mother's education a) illiterate b) uncompleted primary school c) primary school d) uncompleted secondary school e) secondary school f) high education
25. Education of children over 18 years of age a) illiterate b) uncompleted primary school c) primary school d) uncompleted secondary school e) secondary school f) high education
26. Children's attendance in preschool institutions, age and gender CHILDREN'S ATTENDANCE IN PRE-SCHOOL INSTITUTIONS State institutions Projects Attending Not attending Attending Not attending Age No. of children No. of children No. of children No. of children Gender Gender Gender Gender M F M F M F M F 0-3 4-7 Total:
27. School attendance, age and gender of children SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REGULARY OCASIONALY DO NOT ATTEND Age Number of children Number of children Number of children Gender Gender Gender M F M F M F 7-10 11-14 15-18 Total: 102
28. Most common impediments for school attendance and accomplishments, age and gender IMPEDIMENTS FOR SCHOOL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AGE AND GENDER Poverty Prohibition by parents Engaged by parents Lack of self-control and Other control by paprents Age No. of children Number of children Number of children No. of children No. of children
M F M F M F M F M F 7-10 11-14 15-18 Total:
V. Economic status of the family 29. Sources of existence a) for the father - regular state job - pension - registered private business - unregistered private business - redundancy and bankruptcy - assistance from relatives - seasonal work - household cervants - others
b) for the mother - regular state job - pension - registered private business - unregistered private business - redundancy and bankruptcy - assistance from relatives - seasonal work - household cervants - others
c) Is the family recipient of social benefits in cash? - yes - no d) Are the grandparents beneficiaries of pension? - yes - no e) Incomes generated by children? - yes - no
30. Average monthly financial budget of the family? a) no regular minimal source of incomes c) 101-150 DM e) 201-300 DM b) up to 100 DM d) 151-200 DM f) 301-400 DM g) over 400 DM
31. How many times a week do you cook? a) not once b) once c) several times d) every day 32. How many times a week do you consume hot meal? a) not once b) once c) several times d) every day
33. What is the money in the family most commonly spent on? a) Household keeping expenses b) food c) clothes d) weddings e) other__
34. What are the money in the family most commonly saved for?______103
VI. SOCIAL STATUS AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS WITH FAMILIES
35. Are you socially endangered family? a) yes b) no - registered in the Centre for Social Work - with the new crisis conditions we shall become - not registered due to lack of documents or citizenship
36. Presence of begging with children a) yes b) occasionally c) no
37. Presence of begging with parents a) yes b) occasionally c) no
38. Are your children registered in the Centre for Social Work? a) for behavioral problems b) delinquency (List children registered, age and gender) ______
39. Are any of the family members drug or alcohol addicted? a) The father is drug addicted a) the father is alcoholic b) The mother is drug addicted b) the mother is alcoholic c) The children are drug addicted c) the children are alcoholics Number of children, age and gender Number of children, age and gender ______
40. Are there any children without parents and parental care in your family unit? a) deceased father v) absent father b) deceased mother g) absent mother (List number of children, their age, and the reasons for parent's absence) ______
41. Does your family look after children without parents and parental care? a) yes - how many______b) no - registered - not registered
42. Children placed in social institutions and children's age Institution Ljubanci 11th of Ranka 25 of Foster Correction Institution for Mother Others October Milanovic May family house blind, deaf and Teresa and physically disabled others No. of No. of No. of children No. of No. of children No. of children No. of children No. of children No. of Age children children children children 0-3 4-6 7-14 15-18 Total: 104
Appendix 2 Sample questionnaire (Macedonian version)
Nacionalen centar za kontinuirano UNICEF obrazovanie za socijalen razvoj Detski fond na ON Institut za socijalna rabota i socijalna politika Kancelarija vo Skopje Filozofski Fakultet - Skopje ______Anketen list br. za stanbeno-komunalnata, zdravstveno-obrazovnata i socijalno-ekonomskata sostojba na semejstvata Romi vo op{tinata [uto Orizari
Data na popolnuvawe na anketniot list______Anketar______Kontrolor______(Ime i prezime) (Ime i prezime)
I. Op{ti podatoci
1. Ime i prezime na glavata na semejstvoto (lice koe ja obezbeduva egzistencijata) ______2. Ulica, broj, telefon ______
3. Reon I II III IV V VI
4. Zanimawe na glavata na semejstvoto a) bez zanimawe b) zanaet~istvo v) trgovija g) slu`benik d) drugo
5. Broj na ~lenovi na semejstvoto a) ime na vozrasni vozrast b) ime na deca vozrast ime na majka ______1. ______ime na tatko ______2. ______ime na baba ______3. ______ime na dedo ______4. ______5. ______105
6. ______7. ______8. ______9. ______
10.______II. Kvalitet na komunalno-stanbeniot prostor
6. Kolku semejstva `iveat vo ista gradba a) tri i pove}e b) dve v) edno
7. Kvalitet na gradba vo koja `ivee semejstvoto a) improvizorium b) tro{na i monta`na gradba v) tvrda gradba
8. Stanbena povr{ina po m2 po ~len a) od 2-5m2 b) od 6-10 m2 v) nad 11 m2
9. Broj na prostorii koi gi koristi semejstvoto a) edna zaedni~ka b) 2 prostorii v) 3 i pove}e
10. Sanitaren ~vor vo `iveali{teto a) WC vo dvor b) WC vo stanot v) WC so kupatilo vo stanot
11. Sostojba na kanalizacija a) nema b) so septi~ka jama v) gradska
12. Snabduvawe so voda a) koristi od drugo mesto b) ~e{ma vo dvor b) ~e{ma vo objektot 13. Redovnost na vodosnabduvaweto a) nema b) nepostojano v) postojano
14. Kvalitet na ulicata kade se nao|a `iveali{teto a) neasfaltirana b) delumno asfaltirana v) asfaltirana
15. Osvetluvawe na ulicata na koja se nao|a `iveali{teto a) nema uli~no svetlo b) retko naredeni svetla v) osvetlena
III. Zdravstveno-osiguruvawe i zdravstvena sostojba
16. Zdravstveno osiguruvawe a) da b) ne v) delumno
17. Prele`ani zarazni bolesti kaj decata i vozrast na decata 106
Sega{na TBC @oltica Detski zarazni Rahitis Ko`ni Drugi Vozrast bolesti bolesti Broj na Broj na deca Broj na deca Broj na deca Broj na deca Bolest i broj na deca deca 0-3 g. 4-6 g. 7-14 g. 15-18 g. Vkupno:
18. Higienski uslovi vo semejstvoto a) lo{i higienski uslovi b) nezadovolitelni higienski uslovi v) zadovolitelni higienski uslovi
19. Zdravstveno osiguruvawe, imunizacija i vakcinacija i zdravstveni sostojbi po vozrast na deca *Vo kolonata pod |) i e) vnesete ja prvata bukva od slednive kategorii: |) Invalidnost: F-fizi~ka invalidnost;S-slepo; G-gluvo; N-nemo e) pre~ki vo psihi~ki razvoj: G-golemi; S-sredni; M-mali. *Vo kolonata za kategorizacija vnesuvajte znak H
a) b) v) g) d) |) e) Sega{nav zdravstven zdravstven redovno neredovno smrtnost invalidnost pre~ki vo psihi~ki ozrast o osiguran o vakciniran vakcinirani razvoj neosiguran i i Broj na Broj na Broj na Broj na Br. na Br. na deca Br. na deca deca deca deca deca deca + znak kategori. + znak da ne 0-3 g. 4-6 g. 7-14 g. 15-18 g. Vkupno:
20. Bawawe i pot{i{uvawe na decata po vozrast
Vozrast a) redovno se bawa b) neredovno se v) redovno se g) neredovno se (1-2 pati nedelno) bawa pot{i{uva (uredna pot{i{uva (nitu edna{ kosa) nedelno) 0-3 g. 4-6 g. 7-14 g. 15-18 g. Vkupno:
21. Na koja vozrast majkata go rodila prvoto dete? a) pod 12 g. b) 12-14 g. v) 15-18 g. g) nad 18 g.
22. Dali majkata gi doela svoite deca? a) da, kolku dolgo (vo meseci)______b) ne 107
IV. Obrazoven status, redovnost i uspeh na u~enicite
23. Obrazovanie na tatkoto a) nepismen b) nedovr{eno osnovno v) osnovno g) nedovr{eno sredno d) sredno |) vi{e i vosoko
24. Obrazovanie na majkata a) nepismena b) nedovr{eno osnovno v) osnovno g) nedovr{eno sredno d) sredno |) vi{e i vosoko
25. Obrazovanie na deca nad 18 godi{na vozrast a) nepismena b) nedovr{eno osnovno v) osnovno g) nedovr{eno sredno d) sredno |) vi{e i vosoko
26. Opfatenost na decata vo predu~ili{ni ustanovi, vozrast i pol
OPFATENOST NA DECATA VO PREDU^ILI[NI USTANOVI Od dr`ava Od proekt Posetuva Ne posetuva Posetuva Ne posetuva Vozrast Broj na deca Broj na deca Broj na deca Broj na deca Pol Pol Pol Pol M M M M @ @ @ @ 0-3 g. 4-6 g. Vkupno:
27. Redovnost na decata na u~ili{te, vozrast i pol
REDOVNOST NA POSETUVAWE U^ILI[TE DA POVREMENO NE POSETUVAAT Vozrast Broj na deca Broj na deca Broj na deca Pol Pol Pol M M M @ @ @ 7-10 g. 11-14 g. 15-18 g. Vkupno:
28. Naj~esti pre~ki za uspeh i redovnost vo {koluvaweto, vozrast i pol PRE^KI ZA USPEH I REDOVNOST VO [KOLUVAWETO Siroma{tija Zabrana od roditeli Anga`irani od roditelite Bez kontrola i samokontrola Vozrast Broj na deca Broj na deca Broj na deca Broj na deca Pol Pol Pol Pol M M M M @ @ @ @ 7-10 g. 11-14 g. 15-18 g. Vkupno : 108
V. Ekonomskiot status na semejstvoto
29. Izvori na sredstva za egzistencija a) za tatkoto - od redoven dr`aven raboten odnos - penzija - registrirana privatna dejnost - neregistrirana privatna dejnost - ste~aj - pomo{ od rodnini - sezonska rabota - rabota po ku}i - drugo
b) za majkata - od redoven dr`aven raboten odnos - penzija - registrirana privatna dejnost - neregistrirana privatna dejnost - ste~aj - pomo{ od rodnini - sezonska rabota - rabota po ku}i - drugo
v) Dali semejstvoto prima socijalna pomo{? - da - ne g) Dali babata i dedoto se korisnici na penzija? - da - ne d) Prihodi od decata? - da - ne
30. So kolku sredstva prose~no raspolaga semejstvoto? a) nema redoven minimalen izvor na sredstva v) 101-150 DM d) 201-300 DM b) do 100 DM g) 151-200 DM |) 301-400 DM e) nad 400 DM
31. Kolku pati vo nedelata gotvite hrana? a) nitu edna{ b) edna{ v) nekolku pati g) sekoj den
32. Kolku pati vo nedelata jadete topol obrok? a) nitu edna{ b) edna{ v) nekolku pati g) sekoj den
33. Na {to najmnogu gi tro{ite parite? a) re`iski tro{oci b) hrana v) obleka g) za svadbi d) drugo______
34. Za {to najmnogu {tedite pari?______
35. Dali ste socijalno zagrozeno semejstvo? a) da b) ne - registrirano vo Centar za socijalna rabota - so novite krizni uslovi }e bideme - ne sme registrirani poradi nemawe dokumenti ili dr`avjanstvo 109
36. Prisutnost na prosewe kaj deca a) da b) povremeno v) ne
37. Prisutnost na prosewe kaj roditeli a) da b) povremeno v) ne
38. Dali va{ite deca se registrirani vo Centar za socijalna rabota? a) za vospitna zapu{tenost b) delikvencija (Da se navede brojot na deca koi se registrirani, vozrast i pol) ______
39. Dali vo semejstvoto nekoj e zavisen od droga ili od alkohol? a) tatkoto e zavisen od droga a) tatkoto e alkoholi~ar b) majkata e zavisna od droga b) majkata e alkoholi~arka v) decata se zavisni od droga v) decata se alkoholi~ari Broj na deca, vozrast i pol Broj na deca, vozrast i pol ______
40. Dali vo va{ata zaednica ima deca bez eden ili dva roditeli? a) umren tatko v) otsuten tatko b) umrena majka g) otsutna majka (Da se navede brojot na deca, vozrasta na decata i pri~ini za otsutnost) ______
41. Dali vo va{eto semejstvo ~uvate deca bez roditeli i roditelska gri`a registrirani od Centarot za socijalna rabota? a) da - kolku______ne) - registrirani - neregistrirani
42. Deca smesteni vo socijalni institucii i vozrast na decata
Insti- Quba- 11 Ranka 25 Maj Drugo KPD Institucija za Majka Majka Tucija nci Oktomvri Milanovi} semejstv gluvi, slepi i Tereza i Tereza i o fizi~ki dr. dr. humanit. humanit. invalidi Vozras Broj na Broj na Broj na deca Broj na Br. na Br. na Broj na deca Broj na Broj na deca deca t deca deca deca deca deca 0-3 g. 4-6 g. 7-14 g. 15-18 g. Vkupno : 110
Appendix 3. Additional overviews and tables
OVERVIEWS
Overview 1. Number of family members Number of family members ADULTS CHILDREN Total Mother Father Grandmother Grandfather 2.975 2.768 736 559 6.936 13.974 (21.29%) (19.81%) (5.27%) (4.00%) (49.64%) (100.00%)
Overview 2. Age of parents Age of parents 12 - 18 19 - 24 25-35 over 35 Total Father Mother Father Mother Father Mother Father Mother 15 75 375 565 1.058 1.129 1.320 1.206 5.743 (0.26%) (1.31%) (6.53%) (9.84%) (18.42%) (19.66%) (22.98%) (21.00%) (100.00%)
Overview 3. Number of families according to the number of children Families according to the number of children 1-2 children 3-4 children over 5 children Total 2.085 898 139 3.122 (66.78%) (28.76%) (4.45%) (100.00%)
Overview 4. Water supply regularity Water supply regularity None Irregular Regular Total 49 490 2.583 3.122 (1.57%) (15.70%) (82.74%) (100.00%)
Overview 5. Number of families according to the receipt of benefits in cash Families according to the receipt of benefits in cash Yes No Total 1.640 1.482 3.122 (52.53%) (47.47%) (100.00%) 111
Overview 6. Grandparents according to the receipt of pension Grandparents according to the receipt of pension Yes No Total 466 829 1.295 (35.98%) (64.02%) (100.00%)
TABLES
Table 1. Number of children in the families per regions Number of children in the families Region Up to 2 3-4 children 5-6 children 7-10 over 10 Total children children children I 447 195 39 8 0 689 (14.32%) (6.25%) (1.25%) (0.26%) (0.00%) (22.07%) II 517 216 19 1 0 753 (16.56%) (6.92%) (0.61%) (0.03%) (0.00%) (24.12%) III 130 50 7 0 0 187 (4.16%) (1.60%) (0.22%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (5.99%) IV 349 172 19 4 1 545 (11.18%) (5.51%) (0.61%) (0.13%) (0.03%) (17.46%) V 404 191 28 7 0 630 (12.94%) (6.12%) (0.90%) (0.22%) (0.00%) (20.18%) VI 238 74 6 0 0 318 (7.62%) (2.37%) (0.19%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (10.19%) Total 2.085 898 118 20 1 3.122 (66.78%) (28.76%) (3.78%) (0.64%) (0.03%) (100.00%)
Table 2. Families living in a shared house per regions Families living in a shared house Regions Three and over Two One Total I 132 (4.23%) 166 (5.32%) 391 (12.52%) 689 (22.07%) II 202 (6.47%) 257 (8.23%) 294 (9.42%) 753 (24.12%) III 49 (1.57%) 53 (1.70%) 85 (2.72%) 187 (5.99%) IV 129 (4.13%) 177 (5.67%) 239 (7.66%) 545 (17.46%) V 162 (5.19%) 159 (5.09%) 309 (9.90%) 630 (20.18%) VI 85 (2.72%) 87 (2.79%) 146 (4.68%) 318 (10.19%) Total 759 (24.31%) 899 (28.80%) 1.464 (46.89%) 3.122 (100.00%) 112
Table 3. Quality of the housing per regions Quality of the housing Regions Improvised house Dilapidated and Solid construction Total montage house house I 68 (2.18%) 263 (8.42%) 358 (11.47%) 689 (22.07%) II 4 (0.13%) 75 (2.40%) 674 (21.59%) 753 (24.12%) III 0 (0.00%) 67 (2.15%) 120 (3.84%) 187 (5.99%) IV 7 (0.22%) 69 (2.21%) 469 (15.02%) 545 (17.46%) V 69 (2.21%) 147 (4.71%) 414 (13.26%) 630 (20.18%) VI 17 (0.54%) 72 (2.31%) 229 (7.34%) 318 (10.19%) Total 165 (5.29%) 693 (22.20%) 2.264 (72.52%) 3.122 (100.00%)
Table 4. Housing space in m2 per regions
2 Regions Housing space in m Below 5m2 per 6-10m2 per member Over 11m2 per Total member member I 310 (9.93%) 302 (9.67%) 77 (2.47%) 689 (22.07%) II 383 (12.27%) 250 (8.01%) 120 (3.84%) 753 (24.12%) III 30 (0.96%) 75 (2.40%) 82 (2.63%) 187 (5.99%) IV 198 (6.34%) 243 (7.78%) 104 (3.33%) 545 (17.46%) V 241 (7.72%) 256 (8.20%) 133 (4.26%) 630 (20.18%) VI 129 (4.13%) 119 (3.81%) 70 (2.24%) 318 (10.19%) Total 1.291 (41.35%) 1.245 (39.88%) 586 (18.77%) 3.122 (100.00%)
Table 5. Number of living quarters per regions Living quarters Regions One shared Two quarters Three and more Total I 144 (4.61%) 330 (10.57%) 215 (6.89%) 689 (22.07%) II 94 (3.01%) 278 (8.90%) 381 (12.20%) 753 (24.12%) III 9 (0.29%) 57 (1.83%) 121 (3.88%) 187 (5.99%) IV 91 (2.91%) 220 (7.05%) 234 (7.50%) 545 (17.46%) V 166 (5.32%) 257 (8.23%) 207 (6.63%) 630 (20.18%) VI 92 (2.95%) 163 (5.22%) 63 (2.02%) 318 (10.19%) Total 596 (19.09%) 1.305 (41.80%) 1.221 (39.11%) 3.122 (100.00%) 113
Table 6. Sanitary facilities per regions Sanitary facilities Regions Toilet in the yard Toilet in the house Toilet with bathroom Total in the house I 346 (11.08%) 79 (2.53%) 264 (8.46%) 689 (22.07%) II 320 (10.25%) 79 (2.53%) 354 (11.34%) 753 (24.12%) III 26 (0.83%) 2 (0.06%) 159 (5.09%) 187 (5.99%) IV 264 (8.46%) 25 (0.80%) 256 (8.20%) 545 (17.46%) V 389 (12.46%) 25 (0.80%) 216 (6.92%) 630 (20.18%) VI 152 (4.87%) 14 (0.45%) 152 (4.87%) 318 (10.19%) Total 1.497 (47.95%) 224 (7.17%) 1.401 (44.88%) 3.122 (100.00%)
Table 7. Sewerage condition per regions
Regions Sewerage condition None Septic tank Public Total I 21 (0.67%) 2 (0.06%) 666 (21.33%) 689 (22.07%) II 141 (4.52%) 41 (1.31%) 571 (18.29%) 753 (24.12%) III 2 (0.06%) 4 (0.13%) 181 (5.80%) 187 (5.99%) IV 41 (1.31%) 3 (0.10%) 501 (16.05%) 545 (17.46%) V 111 (3.56%) 37 (1.19%) 482 (15.44%) 630 (20.18%) VI 2 (0.06%) 50 (1.60%) 266 (8.52%) 318 (10.19%) Total 318 (10.19%) 137 (4.39%) 2.667 (85.43%) 3.122 (100.00%)
Table 8. Water supply per regions Water supply Regions Uses water from Running water in Running water in Total other places the yard the house I 27 (0.86%) 265 (8.49%) 397 (12.72%) 689 (22.07%) II 2 (0.06%) 283 (9.06%) 468 (14.99%) 753 (24.12%) III 0 (0.00%) 21 (0.67%) 166 (5.32%) 187 (5.99%) IV 27 (0.86%) 222 (7.11%) 296 (9.48%) 545 (17.46%) V 28 (0.90%) 332 (10.63%) 270 (8.65%) 630 (20.18%) VI 5 (0.16%) 111 (3.56%) 202 (6.47%) 318 (10.19%) Total 89 (2.85%) 1.234 (39.53%) 1.799 (57.62%) 3.122 (100.00%) 114
Table 9. Water supply regularity per regions
Water supply regularity Regions None Irregular Regular Total I 10 (0.32%) 181 (5.80%) 498 (15.95%) 689 (22.07%) II 0 (0.00%) 118 (3.78%) 635 (20.34%) 753 (24.12%) III 0 (0.00%) 0 (0.00%) 187 (5.99%) 187 (5.99%) IV 17 (0.54%) 1 (0.03%) 527 (16.88%) 545 (17.46%) V 21 (0.67%) 33 (1.06%) 576 (18.45%) 630 (20.18%) VI 1 (0.03%) 157 (5.03%) 160 (5.12%) 318 (10.19%) Total 49 (1.57%) 490 (15.70%) 2.583 (82.74%) 3.122 (100.00%)
Table 10. Quality of the streets per regions Quality of the streets Regions Not paved Partly paved Paved Total I 48 (1.54%) 310 (9.93%) 331 (10.60%) 689 (22.07%) II 26 (0.83%) 207 (6.63%) 520 (16.66%) 753 (24.12%) III 10 (0.32%) 147 (4.71%) 30 (0.96%) 187 (5.99%) IV 64 (2.05%) 393 (12.59%) 88 (2.82%) 545 (17.46%) V 226 (7.24%) 356 (11.40%) 48 (1.54%) 630 (20.18%) VI 81 (2.59%) 200 (6.41%) 37 (1.19%) 318 (10.19%) Total 455 (14.57%) 1.613 (51.67%) 1.054 (33.76%) 3.122 (100.00%)
Table 11. Street-lightening per regions Street-lightening Regions No streetlights Rarely lined up Lightened Total lights I 314 (10.06%) 85 (2.72%) 290 (9.29%) 689 (22.07%) II 86 (2.57%) 207 (6.63%) 460 (14.73%) 753 (24.12%) III 34 (1.09%) 140 (4.48%) 13 (0.42%) 187 (5.99%) IV 82 (2.63%) 96 (3.07%) 367 (11.76%) 545 (17.46%) V 418 (13.39%) 192 (6.15%) 20 (0.64%) 630 (20.18%) VI 181 (5.80%) 131 (4.20%) 6 (0.19%) 318 (10.19%) Total 1.115 (35.71%) 851 (27.26%) 1.156 (37.03%) 3.122 (100.00%) 115
Table 12. Hygienic conditions in families per children's age
Hygienic conditions in families Children's Poor hygienic Insufficient Satisfying Total age conditions 0-3 263 (4.37%) 295 (4.90%) 669 (11.12%) 1.227 (20.40%) 4-6 212 (3.52%) 219 (3.64%) 582 (9.86%) 1.013 (16.84%) 7-14 455 (7.56%) 573 (9.53%) 1.604 (26.67%) 2.632 (43.76%) 15-18 168 (2.79%) 243 (4.04%) 732 (12.17%) 1.143 (19.00%) Total 1.098 (18.25%) 1.330 (22.11%) 3.587 (59.63%) 6.015 (100.00%)
Table 13. Educational status of fathers per age
Educational status of fathers Illiterate Uncompleted Primary Uncompleted Secondary High Age primary education secondary education education Total education education 12-18 7 4 4 0 0 0 15 (0.25%) (0.14%) (0.14%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.54%) 19-24 29 85 207 5 49 0 375 (1.05%) (3.07%) (7.48%) (0.18%) (1.77%) (0.00%) (13.55%) 25-35 47 112 627 32 239 1 1.58 (1.70%) (4.05%) (22.65%) (1.16%) (8.63%) (0.04%) (38.22%) Over 35 121 244 545 28 376 6 1.20 (4.37%) (8.82%) (19.69%) (1.01%) (13.58%) (0.22%) (47.69%) Total 204 445 1.83 65 664 7 2.68 (7.37%) (16.08%) (49.96%) (2.35%) (23.99%) (0.25%) (100.00%)
Table 14. Cooking meals and quality of the housing
Quality of the Cooking meals housing Not once Once Several times Every day Total Improvised house 7 (0.22%) 46 (1.47%) 44 (1.41%) 68 (2.18%) 165 (5.29%) Dilapidated and 13 (0.42%) 174 (5.57%) 237 (7.59%) 269 (8.62%) 693 (22.20%) montage house Solid construction 12 (0.38%) 153 (4.90%) 599 (19.19%) 1.500 (48.05%) 2.264 (72.52%) house Total 32 (1.02%) 373 (11.95%) 880 (28.19%) 1.837 (58.84%) 3.122 (100.00%) 116
Table 15. Consummation of hot meals and quality of the housing
Quality of the Consummation of hot meals housing Not once Once Several Every day Total times Improvised house 12 (0.38%) 39 (1.25%) 58 (1.86%) 56 (1.79%) 165 (5.29%) Dilapidated and 18 (0.58%) 177 (5.67%) 240 (7.69%) 258 (8.26%) 693 (22.20%) montage house Solid construction 21 (0.67%) 242 (7.75%) 670 (21.46%) 1.331 (42.63%) 2.264 (72.52%) house Total 51 (1.63%) 458 (14.67%) 968 (31.01%) 1.645 (52.69%) 3.122 (100.00%)
Table 16. Cooking meals and children's age
Children's Cooking meals age Not once Once Several times Every day Total 0-3 26 (0.43%) 173 (2.88%) 332 (5.52%) 696 (11.57%) 1.227 (20.40%) 4-6 18 (0.30%) 140 (2.33%) 272 (4.52%) 583 (9.69%) 1.013 (16.84%) 7-14 32 (0.53%) 381 (6.33%) 651 (10.82%) 1.568 (26.07%) 2.632 (43.76%) 15-18 12 (0.20%) 154 (2.56%) 297 (4.94%) 680 (11.31%) 1.143 (19.00%) Total 88 (1.46%) 848 (14.10%) 1.552 (25.80%) 3.527 (58.64%) 6.015 (100.00%) Table 17. Consummation of hot meals and children's age
Children's Consummation of hot meals age Not once Once Several times Every day Total 0-3 29 (0.48%) 212 (3.52%) 342 (5.69%) 644 (10.71%) 1.227 (20.40%) 4-6 17 (0.28%) 135 (2.24%) 303 (5.04%) 558 (9.28%) 1.013 (16.84%) 7-14 44 (0.73%) 411 (6.83%) 738 (12.27%) 1.439 (23.92%) 2.632 (43.76%) 15-18 17 (0.28%) 185 (3.08%) 354 (5.89%) 587 (9.76%) 1.143 (19.00%) Total 107 (1.78%) 943 (15.68%) 1.737 (28.88%) 3.228 (53.67%) 6.015 (100.00%)
Table 18. Most common family expenditures and quality of the housing
Most common family expenditures Quality of the Household Food Clothes Weddings Other Total housing keeping expenses Improvised house 13 (0.42%) 151 (4.84%) 0 (0.00%) 0 (0.00%) 1 (0.03%) 165 (5.29%) Dilapidated and 63 (2.02%) 622 (19.92%) 2 (0.06%) 1 (0.03%) 5 (0.16%) 693 (22.20%) montage house Solid construction 277 (8.87%) 1.927 (61.72%) 15 (0.48%) 0 (0.00%) 45 (1.44%) 2.264 (72.52%) house Total 353 (11.31%) 2.700 (86.48%) 17 (0.54%) 1 (0.03%) 51 (1.63%) 3.122 (100.00%) 117
Table 19. Social endangerment of families per regions
Social endangerment Region YES NO Total Registered in the Potential Not registered due to Centre for Social lack of documents or Work citizenship I 426 51 126 86 689 (13.65%) (1.63%) (4.04%) (2.75%) (22.07%) II 322 151 100 180 753 (10.31%) (4.84%) (3.20%) (5.77%) (24.12%) III 95 36 15 41 187 (3.04%) (1.15%) (0.48%) (1.31%) (5.99%) IV 271 101 95 79 545 (8.68%) (3.24%) (3.04%) (2.53%) (17.46%) V 355 78 91 105 630 (11.37%) (2.50%) (2.91%) (3.36%) (20.18%) VI 160 41 60 57 318 (5.12%) (1.31%) (1.92%) (1.83%) (10.19%) Total 1.629 458 487 548 3.122 (52.18%) (14.67%) (15.60%) (17.55%) (100.00%)
Table 20. Presence of begging with children and parents per regions Begging with children Begging with parents Region Yes Occasionally No Yes Occasionally No I 18 6 665 6 3 680 (0.58%) (0.19%) (21.30%) (0.19%) (0.10%) (21.78%) II 2 2 749 3 2 748 (0.06%) (0.06%) (23.99%) (0.10%) (0.06%) (23.96%) III 0 1 186 0 1 186 (0.00%) (0.03%) (5.96%) (0.00%) (0.03%) (5.96%) IV 8 1 536 19 5 521 (0.26%) (0.03%) (17.17%) (0.61%) (0.16%) (16.69%) V 25 8 597 18 5 607 (0.80%) (0.26%) (19.12%) (0.58%) (0.16%) (19.44%) VI 4 2 312 4 2 312 (0.13%) (0.06%) (9.99%) (0.13%) (0.06%) (9.99%) Total 57 20 3.045 50 18 3.054 (1.83%) (0.64%) (97.53%) (1.60%) (0.58%) (97.82%) 118
Table 21. Behavioral problems and delinquency among children and social endangerment of the family Social Behavioral problems Total Delinquency Total endangerment 7-10 11-15 Over 15 Over 18 M F M F M F M F Registered in the 0 1 0 0 3 0 4 6 0 6 Centre for Social Work (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.04%) (0.00%) (0.06%) (0.65%) (0.00%) (0.65%) Potential 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) Not registered 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) Not endangered 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) Total 0 1 1 0 4 0 6 6 0 6 (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.06%) (0.00%) (0.09%) (0.65%) (0.00%) (0.65%)
Table 22. Behavioral problems and delinquency among children per regions Regions Behavioral problems Total Delinquency Total 7-10 11-15 Over 15 Over 18 M F M F M F M F I 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.01%) II 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 2 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.03%) (0.00%) (0.03%) (0.03%) (0.00%) (0.03%) III 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) IV 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) V 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.01%) VI 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 2 0 2 (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.03%) (0.00%) (0.04%) (0.03%) (0.00%) (0.03%) Total 0 1 1 0 4 0 6 6 0 6 (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.06%) (0.00%) (0.09%) (0.65%) (0.00%) (0.65%) 119
Table 23. Drug addiction among parents and children per regions Drug addiction among parents and children Region Father Mother Children's age 7-10 11-15 Over 15 Total m F m F m F I 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.01%) II 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 (0.14%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.03%) (0.00%) (0.03%) III 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) IV 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) V 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) VI 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.01%) Total 6 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 4 (0.22%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.03%) (0.01%) (0.06%)
Table 24. Alcohol addiction among parents and children per regions
Alcohol addiction among parents and children Region Father Mother Children's age 7-10 11-15 Over 15 Total M F m F m F I 20 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 (0.72%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.01%) II 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 (0.07%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.01%) III 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.04%) (0.00%) (0.04%) IV 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (0.36%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) V 16 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 (0.58%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.01%) VI 29 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 (1.05%) (0.03%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.01%) (0.00%) (0.01%) Total 77 1 0 0 0 0 7 0 7 (2.78%) (0.03%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.00%) (0.10%) (0.00%) (0.10%) 120
Appendix 4. Map of the Municipality of Shuto Orizari 121
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