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Description
The project envisages the establishment of Mother Centers in the village of Skravena, the village of Litakovo, Botevgrad municipality and in the town of Mezdra, Mezdra municipality. The need to establish such centers was identified in both municipalities as a result of extensive surveys among the Roma community carried out by the joint program of the Council of Europe and the European Commission ROMACT. All services in the Mother Centers will be based on the family - oriented approach in the child care. In all services parents will be informed and empowered in order to increase their parental capacity. Parents will be involved as partners in working with the child and this will give much greater effectiveness to the work of professionals. The planning of the services will be done together, and the activities will be tailored to the needs of family support. Parents will receive comprehensive information about everything that concerns their child and each activity will be discussed and agreed with them in advance. This will expand their parenting skills and beliefs about what caring for their child''s development should look like. Another very important aspect of the family-oriented approach will be the building of parental networks for mutual assistance. In these groups they will be able to share their worries, difficulties, fears and dreams. Interinstitutional relations and cooperation will be key to the mutual reinforcement of the measures taken by different actors in each specific area. Interaction with nurseries and kindergartens, with schools, with medical services, with hospitals, with other social services is the condition that builds the overall institutional support environment. Working together will provide an opportunity for mutual learning and complementarity of competencies. At least 300 children aged 0 to 6 and their parents from Roma origin will be covered by the activities of the Mother Centers during the project implementation period
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the lack of quality preschool education and early childhood services for children age 0-6 from Botevgrad and Mezdra municipalities, to improve the well-being of the most vulnerable children, to help parents improve their parental skills, change their attitude towards education and be more supportive in the educational process.
All provided services under the project aimed to support early childhood development, better access to social and healthcare services and improved parental skills for families mainly from Roma communities in Botevgrad and Mezdra. The establishment of the tree mother and child centers ensured safe, child-friendly environment and professional support and provided integrated social, health and educational services for children. Trainings for development of cognitive and social skills were conducted helping children develop independent habits, creativity and confidence. Workshops for parents and caregivers were organized to turn them into active partners in their children''s development and learning. Training courses for specialist were conducted to enhance their ability to work with vulnerable communities. Home visits, individual health consultations, food and hygiene products were ensured for the most vulnerable families.
Through the established three mother and child centers an early childhood education and care activities were provided to 343 children. Trainings for parents were provided focused on active parentship and care, hygiene, nutrition and preventive healthcare. Trainings for specialists working in the field of early childhood education, social services, health care specialists were organized to enhance their ability to work with vulnerable communities and provide comprehensive family support. Regular health consultations, nutritious meals, food and hygiene products were delivered for the most vulnerable families.