Based on the analyses made for the draft of the “Strategy for Improving Preschool Education of the City of Zrenjanin for the Period 2018-22”, it was shown that regardless of the fact that the City of Zrenjanin and the Preschool Institution do not have a waiting list for enrolling children in kindergartens, there is still a number of children who are not included in quality preschool education programs, especially children from vulnerable social groups. By using the software support “Records of data on preschool children with the support of strategic planning of educational capacities” and with good cooperation with other institutions from the local community, data on the number of children not included in the system of preschool education were obtained which led to planning the activities for children and parents within the Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Project – To a Kindergarten With a Smile”.

In an effort to realize the goals of the project, the City of Zrenjanin and its partners realized two promotional activities after the summer holidays and a more positive epidemiological situation. The first promotional activity was called “Athletes invite you, learn a new skill” in front of the Martial Arts House “Partizan” and the second promotional activity was called “For our dear faces, we have prepared a treasure map” in the City Garden where parents were informed about the Project and where the importance of early development, children’s learning and inclusion in the system of preschool education were promoted. The promotional activities were attended by nursery age children from 1-3 years, accompanied by parents, who were enrolled by the preschool institution in 2 new nursery groups of all-day stay in kindergartens “Zvezdica” and “Zvončica”. New nursery groups in the mentioned kindergartens have been opened in new rooms, and they have been completely adapted and equipped with the most modern didactic means and furniture from Grant’s funds.

In its offer, the preschool institution has also developed various programs that differ in form, duration and program orientation. Short programs “Park as a kindergarten” and “Postcard of my city” were realized outside the premises of the preschool institution, and in cooperation with institutions from the local community. They were realized by expert associates and associates of the preschool institution. Short programs contributed to greater availability of preschool services and provided support to families to improve parenting competencies, with special emphasis on the participation of both parents. A workshop “With Dad for Mom” was realized in the kindergarten “Zvezdica” for children who are not included in the system of preschool education. The children were active in the workshop, had the opportunity to participate in activities together with their parents, researched and learned through research in a new environment, learned through play and learned to respect diversity. Educators had the opportunity to improve their competencies through a continuous exchange of experiences with children and other adults.

Based on the comments of parents, the conclusion is that the project ” To a Kindergarten With a Smile” provides an opportunity for parents to learn and develop their competencies and they are satisfied with the new way of working in terms of offering different programs, increased coverage of children, improvement of inclusive policy and cooperation with local community.

Media campaigns implemented within the ECEC project have once again received high recognition. Last year, the bronze award at the UEPS Awards went to the “Acceptance” campaign within the category – Recognition for an integrated socially responsible campaign in the non-profit sector. This year, the success was repeated by the “Support” campaign, winning a bronze award in the Culture and Information category.

The video “Support” caused positive reactions after the first airing on TV screens. The story of the irreplaceable role of parents and guardians in a child’s development had a great echo. In addition to the TV spot, this campaign was realized through other communication channels, such as advertising billboards, social networks, daily press, online portals.

Watch all versions of the Support video on our YouTube channel.

Every year, UEPS (Association for Market Communications of Serbia) awards the most successful agencies and individuals for achievements in the field of marketing in the past year. Awards are given in the categories for best campaign, TV spot, radio spot, print, design and many others.

Preschool institution “Poletarac” Odžaci within the Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Project with its partners, the Municipality of Odžaci, the Health Centre Odžaci, the Sports Association of the Municipality of Odžaci, the Red Cross Odžaci and the Association of Teachers of Vojvodina has achieved the following:

1) Improving the availability of preschool services for children from socially vulnerable groups –informing parents about the rights to enrol, the reduced price of kindergarten fee and free stay in kindergarten through bilingual flyers.

 2) Increasing the coverage of children from vulnerable groups in rural areas – designing and implementing short programs in accordance with the wishes and needs of users (“Getting to know ourselves”, “It is my right to live happily and healthily” and “Reading Room”). So far, 31 children have been enrolled, and the ultimate goal is to establish regular attendance at these programs, as well as enrolment of children next year.

3) The preschool institution has implemented various programs that enable the availability of diverse contents assisting development and learning of children from socially vulnerable groups through joint activities with other children. In cooperation with the Sports Association of the Municipality of Odžaci, the Sports School program is being implemented, in which 35 children from the group play and practice together in Serbian, Hungarian and short programs.

4) Realization of various educational workshops for children in cooperation with partners: “Misha and Masha” with the Red Cross, “Tooth Screening” with the Health Centre, “Healthy Growing” with the Sports Federation, “Life Values” in cooperation with the professional service of the kindergarten. So far, a total of 231 children have attended these workshops.

5) Mobile School of Parenting – in cooperation with the Health Centre Odžaci, educational lectures on “Family Planning” were realized. The lectures were attended by more than 60 parents.

6) Creative workshops for children and fathers on the topic of March 8th. Dads made gifts for moms with kids. The workshops were attended by 202 participants.

7) Providing material aid to families from socially vulnerable groups. At the beginning of the year, the children received bags for kindergarten, slippers, notebooks and tea cups. Before the New Year, the children also received New Year’s gifts. 60 families received material aid.

8) Empowerment of employees in Preschool Institutions  – in cooperation with the Association of Educators of Vojvodina, two workshops were realized for 43 educators and nurses-educators on the topic “Measured and thoughtful steps for the development of children’s self-confidence through a stimulating environment.”

 See other photos here.

Public relations trainings officially started on November 30, 2020. From that day, more than 150 registered representatives of local municipalities from various institutions started having access to video and text materials with which they had the opportunity to gain additional knowledge and obtain important information about the Project and topics such as public relations, public speaking, guest appearances in radio and TV shows, performing and promoting activities through social media and other communication channels, writing press releases and others.

In the past period, some of the participants, after attending the theoretical part of the training, moved to another segment related to homework and promoting the Project through local media and social networks. News related to projects at the local level were promoted on the official websites of preschool institutions, municipalities/cities, social work centres, local media portals as well as social media (Facebook profiles and groups). The texts and stories that were forwarded to us by our associates from the local communities were soon published on the ECEC official website and other social networks of the Inclusive Preschool Education and Care Project.

In accordance with the adopted plan, the names of the representatives who submitted their homework and forwarded texts on current events from their local municipalities were published on the website of the Project – Project Ambassadors – https://ecec.mpn.gov.rs/?page_id=3620.

The effective cooperation and courtesy of the first Project Ambassadors so far is just the beginning of the story about the promotion of the Project in local governments. In the following period, news and current events are expected to arrive from other participants from other munipalities.

Within Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care Project with the help of the obtained financial resources from the grant program, a new car was procured for a preschool institution in the municipality of Krupanj.

Through the “Mobile School of Parenting” project activities, a coordinated stay in the field of all partners, local community, preschool, health center, Center for Social Work, Red Cross, is planned in order for them to provide an assistance to parents through the organization of mobile counseling, parenting school which aims to develop parenting skills. The purchase of vehicle will significantly improve the work of all partners in providing assistance to parents through their activities.

The project implements daily programs lasting 4 hours for children who do not attend preschool as well as children from vulnerable social groups aged 3 to 5.5 in the three local communities of Brstica, Bela Crkva and Kostajnik.

“The duration of the Project implementation is 30 months and in that period intensive work will be done on the sustainability of the project and inclusion of children in other local communities, in the municipality of Krupanj, in preschool programs at an early age, so that children achieve full growth, development and learning from the earliest age in a stimulating environment “, points out Dusica Zeljic – project coordinator.

Activities on the project, as far as the current epidemiological situation allowed, began through the purchase of computer equipment, gift packages for children, conducting creative workshops for children and parents, as well as the purchase of a car.