Karin Dom Is a Partner in the Pilot Implementation of the EU “Child Guarantee” in Bulgaria – Phase III of the Preparatory Action of the European Commission

By invitation of UNICEF-Bulgaria Karin Dom has joined the project for the pilot implementation of the “Guarantee for the Child” of the European Union in Bulgaria – Phase III of the preparatory action of the European Commission. The project is funded by the European Commission and Karin Dom will be involved in the part of the project which will work to strengthen the capacity of specialists for early intervention and quality inclusive preschool education.

In November 2015, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the Commission and the Member States to introduce the Child Guarantee so that every child living in poverty has access to free healthcare, education, childcare, adequate housing and an adequate diet as part of a European integrated plan to combat child poverty and recommended that all children be given access to quality services at this crucial stage of their development.

For the preparation and implementation of the set goals, the European Commission is financing the pilot implementation of the “Child Guarantee” – Phase III of the preparatory action of the Commission. The pilot test of the Child Guarantee is carried out with the support of UNICEF in 7 Member States: Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Lithuania and Croatia.
In Bulgaria, the pilot project is aimed at children with disabilities and developmental difficulties and children from vulnerable families, including Roma children from vulnerable communities. The aim of the project is to expand access and improve the quality of 4 types of services – home care for families with young children, early intervention for children with disabilities and developmental difficulties, quality inclusive preschool education and prevention and support services aimed at children and families with a focus on children from vulnerable families. The pilot activities will be implemented in 10 municipalities in three districts – Burgas, Sliven and Stara Zagora and will include over 6,500 children and parents and nearly 600 specialists from different areas.

The project is biennial (1.02.2021 – 31.07.2022).

Karin Dom’s participation in the initiative will include:

• Provision of distance learning, live training and methodological support for early childhood intervention staff in Chirpan, Sliven and Stara Zagora;
• Training and supervision of teachers and specialists in 30 pilot kindergartens in 10 municipalities (Burgas, Aytos, Sredets, Sliven, Tvarditsa, Kotel, Nova Zagora, Stara Zagora, Kazanlak, Chirpan) to provide more inclusive early childhood education and engagement of parents. The trainings will focus on 4 key pillars for the successful inclusion of children and their families:
• Support for an inclusive environment in the kindergarten;
• Effective parental involvement, incl. communication with parents;
• Support for a smooth transition between the family or the early childhood intervention service to kindergarten and primary school.
• The topic is aimed at all staff in kindergartens and includes specialists from the Regional Center for Support of the Inclusive Education Process;
• Improved cooperation within the support team in kindergartens;
• Development of short practical guidelines serving to improve the environment in kindergartens on 4 topics – inclusive environment, parental involvement, transition and teamwork.

We are motivated and inspired to share our experience and knowledge in the direction of early support for every child and family, to build an environment that accepts and supports every child and, most importantly, to develop a partnership model of working with parents and among early intervention teams and those of day-care centers, kindergarten, school and resource specialists.

You can read more about the project in Bulgaria HERE .

This project is funded by the European Union.

© Karin Dom, 2021
The information and views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union. The institutions and bodies of the European Union or any person acting on their behalf cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.