Multicultural playgroup launched

Saturday 26 October 2019

A multicultural playgroup is being launched to encourage Romanian children to learn more about their roots, while encouraging others to discover another language, culture and traditions.

The Romanian Association in Jersey is launching the ‘ARO-Romanian Playgroup and Learning Club for all’ with an open day event at Plat Douet Primary School tomorrow.

Visitors will be welcomed by Minnie Mouse in person for a morning of “fun activities, music, treats, face painting, bouncy castle and surprises".

Pictured: Minnie Mouse will welcome attendees tomorrow.

The ARO-Romanian Playgroup will be an ongoing Sunday activity during school terms, starting from 10 November. It will be open to all children from babies to 12-year-olds who are interested in playing and dancing in a multicultural environment.

Each session will be split between amusement and dance classes where children will get to learn ballroom dancing and, occasionally, traditional Romanian dances.

Starting from next year, there will also be an opportunity to learn about Romanian language, culture and traditions via language classes run through a programme in association with the Romanian Language Institute and Romanian Embassy in London.

Pictured: Romanian classes will be launched next year.

Run by volunteers, the playgroup project aims to be a cultural exchange programme, where islanders will get to the Romanian language and traditions, while Romanian children will be able to explore their roots and better integrate into the island. 

“I wanted to launch something like this, as something that will bring the Romanian community closer together and closer to the rest of the islanders too,” Raluca Kovacs, Chair of the Romanian Association in Jersey, explained.

“Through the Romanian classes I want the Romanian children not to forget their roots and traditions and the non-Romanian interested, to find out about our culture and traditions, to help them understand better where we’re coming from and why not. learn the language if they like it.”

Pictured: Activities will include arts and crafts, knitting, sewing, building, and even cooking.

The group also aims to provide joint activities for siblings of different ages. It will be open to babies and young teens who will get to enjoy the same activities, as well as some age specific ones. 

Activities will change each week, depending on the materials available. Children will be introduced them to arts and crafts, knitting, sewing, building, and even cooking.

“There are many playgroups in Jersey, but I’m not aware of one where you can have in the same time separate and joint activities for all from 0 to 12 years old,” Ms Kovacs said. “Parents are able to have both babies or toddlers and older siblings too interacting together or separately with qualified volunteer staff, to acquire different art and craft skills.”