Kids and families in Jersey are hooting and hollering about Environmental Education 101—a free after school program! The program primarily teaches about the Romanian language, culture, and history. This program has been ongoing since 2022. It serves children from ages three to 18, and it hopes to maintain cultural traditions while bolstering social connections between Romanian families in the neighborhood.
At the center of the program is eight-year-old Stefan, who has played since the first classes opened. He poses in front of a flag and student art-filled classroom, flanked by the rest of his student council. The desks and chairs are grouped in clusters, transforming the space into an engaging, collaborative learning aura. Stefan, who came to it with an open heart though he didn’t know much about the Romanian language and culture.
I don’t believe that I’ve ever skipped a single one of those seminars, he stated. Finally, I believe that it is incumbent upon me to learn Romanian. His energy is contagious among his classmates. They even occasionally dress in traditional Romanian attire for their sessions, instilling a party-like spirit into the most engaging of educational experiences.
Stefan’s mother, Ana Maria Ivanov, lauded the program for its impact on her child’s connection to his roots. “It feels like I live there more, I think,” she said. “I feel it’s good to communicate with friends and to keep traditions as well.” In a follow-up conversation, she mentioned how much the classes have improved her child’s ability to understand spoken Romanian.
The classes not only build language acquisition, but are arts infused, diving into cultural practices and historical context. This holistic approach reinvigorates the study of heritage, as students learn to consider their history—more than just their culture—in rich new layers. Ivanov emphasized the significance of these offerings, stating, “Coming here and learning how to read, write, and grammar rules makes a huge difference.”
As the program continues to flourish, Ms. Lombada, a representative involved in its establishment, expressed her pride in its success. “We are very proud and very happy for this programme and we owe a lot to everyone who has worked hard to make it happen,” she remarked.
Parents have long lauded the initiative for its contribution to supporting children’s linguistic and cultural sense of self. One parent articulated the importance of such programs for their families: “It’s important for them to keep speaking our language.”
The positive feedback shows how the program has been key to giving Romanian families in Jersey a sense of belonging. Through artistic means, these children find better ways to connect to their past and deepen their cultural prospect. Along the way, they add vibrancy to the multicultural bedrock of their community.
