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Description
This project envisages the creation of 2 Social and Educational Service Hubs for vulnerable children and their families, that will provide a complex of functional social services in the municipalities of Maglizh and Nikolaevo for children from 0 to 6 years and their parents. For this purpose, special premises will be equipped and furnished, where psychologists, social workers, health, Roma and educational mediators will work with children and their parents. Two new sports saloons and outdoor sports parklands will be built at the kindergartens in Maglizh and Nikolaevo, which will be fitted out with innovative sports and technical equipment and teaching aids. The aim is to apply innovative methods to build essential vital skills for children, such as physical culture, habits for a healthy lifestyle, skills for the earliest prevention of socially significant problem areas, incl. diseases. Various games for socialization and integration in a multicultural environment will be held. The aim is to develop an interdisciplinary methodology that will enable them to acquire and practise both basic skills for sports and motor culture, integrated into games and outdoor activities with an emphasis on improving speech skills in Bulgarian. The two newly built hubs, as well as Cultural House "Probuda" - Maglizh, will become crucial centres for social, educational and cultural activities, events by offering psychological, health and educational support for vulnerable groups and their families in both municipalities
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several key issues the marginalized community face like social isolation, limited access to social, health and educational services, cultural, economic and language barriers.
During the implementation of the project social inclusion of children and young people was ensured and improved through the provision of integrated early childhood education and care services. Three hubs were established and two play halls were renovated. Psychologist, social workers, educational mediators and teachers were employed to provide the necessary activities. An interdisciplinary methodology was developed for integrating sports with early childhood education, Bulgarian language courses were organized, educational materials were delivered to support children improve their skills and increase their readiness to enter the educational system. By offering a variety of non-formal, interactive and play-based activities, fundamental skills trainings, social abilities and healthy habits courses both to children and their families the project aim was achieved thus changing and improving the quality of life of the target group.
Over 400 children and their families covered by the project have been provided with improved conditions for social inclusion, by providing a complex of integrated health and social services. The direct beneficiaries of the aid were the children from Maglizh municipality and Nikolaevo municipality, as well as their family members. Through the implementation of the project activities, the opportunities for achieving equality, inclusion and participation of the Roma in society have been increased.
Summary of bilateral results
During the implementation of the project three bilateral initiatives were conducted. In October, 2023 representatives of the project promoter visited Norway for exchange of experience and good practices with their project partner Cross-cultural Introduction AS. During their stay, the group was presented with the offered social and educational services for children in Norway, the cultural and religious specificities of the vulnerable groups, the used educational methods and good practices. In May, 2023 and in April, 2024 representatives of the project partner visited Bulgaria. They held a seminar for social workers, educators, mediators and administrative staff presented the good practices of Norway in the socio-educational sphere and transfer of knowledge and social innovations and prepared a document with recommendations to the local administration on the relevant educational and social activities that had proven efficient in Norway.