Children and parents praise Romanian classes

Children sometimes also wear traditional Romanian clothing to the classes too

Children and parents have praised a educational programme in Jersey that teaches Romanian language, culture and history.

Classes began last year and are free to attend for youngsters aged between three and 18 years old.

The programme is run at Plat Douet School on Saturday mornings and has been funded by the Romanian government.

The classes have been nominated for the BBC Radio Jersey Make a Difference Awards for the support they have provided the Romanian community in the island.

Stefan has not missed one of the classes since they started

Stefan, eight, has been attending the classes since they began and said he had learnt more about the country's heritage.

He said: "I don't think I've ever missed one of the classes... I think it's important that I learn Romanian.

"I can talk with my loved ones back in Romania because, when I started, I didn't know that much of the language. Now I can speak really well."

Miruna said the lessons were important for her to feel closer to her Romanian culture

Miruna, 13, is from Romania but grew up in Jersey, and said she felt the classes had helped her settle into the island.

She said: "I feel like I'm more at home... I feel it's good to communicate with friends and to keep traditions as well.

"I've been doing this since the beginning and I feel like I'm doing really well understanding Romanian more."

Georgiana Lombada's children goes to the class

Georgiana Lombada's son and daughter attend classes and she said she had been impressed by how they had helped them.

She said it was "important for them to keep speaking our language" and "coming here and learning how to read, write and grammar rules makes a huge difference".

Ms Lombada added: "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."

The courses are provided by the Romanian Linguistic Institute in Bucharest.

Teacher Ana Maria Ivanov was moved when she heard the classes had been nominated

Ana Maria Ivanov is one of the teachers on the course and said she had been moved by the support the team has received.

She said the classes "are really special because they bring our community together" and "it is a pleasure to teach here and we come in with our hearts open".

"It's not only for the Romanian community though, because we are open to any child that would like to join us," Ms Ivanov added.

She said she was also surprised to hear the classes had been nominated for the BBC Radio Jersey Make a Difference Awards.

Ms Ivanov said: "It's absolutely amazing and it is the first we've been nominated for anything because we only started a year ago, so to hear we're making a difference for parents makes us really proud."