19-10-2023 17:15
A round table "Early childhood development in the Roma community: challenges and prospects" was held today, organized by the "Health and Social Development" foundation, a partner in the project "Model for integrated development for education and care in early childhood in Sofia city", with beneficiary Sofia Municipality. The event was opened by Dr. Elena Kabakchieva, Chairperson of the "Health and Social Development" Foundation, Ms. Elka Nalbantova - Deputy Minister, Ministry of Labor and Social Policies, Ms. Mariya Valova - Head of the Programme Operator "Local development, poverty reduction and enhanced inclusion of vulnerable groups" Programme and Ms. Minka Yovcheva, director of the Directorate "Social Services for Children and Adults", Sofia Municipality.
During the discussion, the results of the project, which is implemented in three regions of the Capital Municipality - "Lyulin", "Krasna Polyana" and "Slatina" were presented. Its goal is to improve access to health care, form parenting skills, improve the family environment, increase school readiness and inclusion in the education system, reaching over 300 children and their families. The construction of the main building in the Hristo Botev district is about to take place, and in the "Krasna Polyana" area, practices and models used in Norway have been successfully borrowed, such as a vegetable garden, which is cared for by children.
Ms. Venelina Kostova, representative of the Norwegian partner in the project - Bulgarian-Norwegian Society presented the Norwegian standards for raising children, and Ms. Elena Radoslavova, also a representative of the Norwegian partner, presented to the participants the pedagogical methods for working with children in kindergartens in Norway.