EN
Media has documented the disadvantageous social condition of Roma Children to affect their hopes for
future. However, little is known in research about hope for future in Roma Children and social work
practices that govern it. This case study investigated the hope level, age as a mediator in Children of the
Roma Community (n= 15) and documents social work practices around Hope for future in an organisation
in Slovakia. A mixed method approach (Questionnaires; n=15, Archival study; n= 7, Semi- structured
interview; n=1) showed that as the children’s age increases, their hope level decreases (via inferential
statistics). Moreover, contextualised accultured social work practices around Hope included significant use
of artistic leisure-based activities, education/training, fulfilment of their needs (Maslow’s Theory), holistic
approach involving families and like-minded organisations (via Content analysis). Emerging themes to
explain activities focused on the strength-based approach (via thematic analysis). Age as a mediator in
decreasing hope level is explored via the lenses of Critical social work theory and Bronfenbrenner’s
Ecological theory. As a first to probe upon the social work practices involving Children of Roma
community, this study develops the implications of a structured framework on Hope in Social work using
the CAIMer model.