The city of Leskovac is another grant winner within the Project of Inclusive Preschool Education. With the help of funds from the grant program, the preschool institution “Vukica Mitrovic” together with its partners- the City of Leskovac, the Center for Social Work Leskovac and the Association of Parents “Ringeraja” developed a large number of activities whose implementation brought significant results in the previous period.

In the first place, the coverage of children with preschool education in rural areas has increased. In the village of Brestovac, two new groups were formed in which twenty children were enrolled. A group was formed in Turekovac, one group was formed with eighteen children enrolled, and the plan is to expand the group in the following period.

In order to improve the educational work with children that follows the children’s interests and the needs of the family, Leskovac strengthens the capacity of institutions and organizations to provide services to children from vulnerable social groups. In that context, the living space in the village of Brestovac (two groups) was adapted and equipped, and the space in the village of Turekovac (one group) was equipped. Necessary equipment as well as didactic materials for children’s stay have been provided. A free four-hour stay for children is realized every day. Also, partnership activities are being implemented in order to improve cooperation with parents.

The preschool institution, in cooperation with partners, improves the opportunities for development and learning of children from rural areas and Roma children through:

– informing and educating parents about their right to obtain free preschool services

– monitoring the needs of parents and children and the possibility of using the Romani language within the program

In accordance with the extraordinary circumstances, the cooperation with the family was improved through online communication and the Viber groups. In that way, we are working on getting parents familiar with the best educational approaches.

Conditions are created for children to stay, which will enable them to expand their experiences through the process of research and construction, and not exclusively through the linear acquisition of knowledge. Educators organize a space that exudes and reflects the atmosphere of having a choice to play in various spatial units. Children learn through interaction with the social and physical environment by constantly changing and adapting their previous experiences and knowledge. This approach is based on project-based learning involving children, educators, families and others. Such an organization allows children to be safe and to feel welcome and accepted.

A great contribution to the realization of project activities and sustainability of the program is given by all the mentioned actors.

The project “Dad, Mom, play with us” continued the realization of baby workshops in the kindergarten “Gorica” ​​in Sremcica.

For the needs of the realization of the baby program, a space called “Baby Center” was created. This center, in addition to the study room where baby massages and baby workshops are realized, also contains a space for early development, which we have enriched with various literature for parents.

The baby program in the kindergarten Gorica has so far been realized in three cycles and was attended by 18 babies and their families.

The implementers of the baby program are the nurse at the preventive health care Zivoslava Zivanovic, the nurse educator Natasa Macinkovic with the support of the psychologist, the mentor in the project Katarina DJuric, who is the author of the program.

We invite you to watch a short video created by Natasa Macinkovic, a nurse educator, posted below.

The project of the City of Sabac “Support to children and families from vulnerable social groups in providing equal opportunities for learning and development” within the Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Project abounds in activities that were limited in previous months due to the pandemic situation. Regardless of that, and trying to comply with all epidemiological measures, the project partners adjusted the activities, so the beneficiaries were not denied what had been announced.

In cooperation with the Vozdovac Theater from Misar, about 250 children from a dozen villages watched the educational play “Healthy Teeth”. The play dealt with healthy lifestyles in a humorous and child-friendly way, above all, preserving health.

In addition to children, parents also had the opportunity to go through the “Mobile School of Parenting”, a program that contributes to the development of parenting skills. Through a presentation and video content, the mobile team in the available premises of the villages of Miokus, Drenovac and Zablace spoke to parents about the importance of the kindergarten community for child development, its inclusion among peers and useful time in short preschool programs. Also, there was talk about the influence of the media on children’s speech, which was discussed by special educators and speech therapists.

The mobile team was formed to educate parents in a rural area in the city of Sabac. The topics covered were aimed at prevention – healthy lifestyles and healthy child development.

With the financial means of the Project, a playroom was started in Pocerski Pricinovic, whose name is “Playroom for everyone and you are a part of it”. This mixed group consists of children aged 3 to 5.5, and the group was formed on the premises of the local community and will last for the next three months, until June 15. Materials for work and snacks were provided for the children, and an educator having years of experience working with children in such short programs was hired.

As part of the project “Dad, Mom, play with us”, we made the children from Cukarica happy.

Through the project, the preschool institution Cukarica planned to distribute educational packages for all children involved in the project in different ways.

The project “Dad, Mom, play with us” has so far been realized in four kindergartens and included 112 children who were not in the PVO system from 0 to 5.5 years. So far, 72 educational packages have been distributed, which has made our children happy. The photos have been forwarded to us by parents, and we share with you the happiness and joy of playing with the toys they received as part of the educational package.

With the help of financial resources from the grant program in PU “Poletarac” Odžaci, a car with 7 seats was procured.

The transportation of children from socially vulnerable groups has improved the accessibility of preschool education. This is also one of the ways to remove the obstacles that individual families have in order to include their children in some of the forms of educational work that this institution offers.

The car is used to transport children to short programs in Bogojevo, where the largest number of children that belong to socially sensitive families are located.

Fifteen children aged 3 to 5.5 attend short programs in Bogojevo. An educator and a pedagogical assistant work with them. Short program lasts two hours and children have the opportunity to socialize, play, learn through playing, and explore various topics that are in line with the interests of children and the needs their families’ needs.

The car will also be used for horizontal exchanges with other preschool institutions within the Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Project, for the activities of the Mobile Counseling Center within which doctors of various profiles educate both children and parents, for various project activities implemented in cooperation with project partners: Red Cross Odžaci, Sports Association of the Municipality of Odžaci, the Association of Teachers of Vojvodina, as well as for other kindergarten needs.