For the Best Start in School
Every morning 18 kids between 2 and 6 impatiently dress up and quicken their mothers to go hand in hand to the community early childhood center “Bambi” named by Disney’s animated young deer. “Bambi” is attractively painted and decorated – by young graffiti experts from the neighboring city Bitola. “The Mayor suggested inviting this group of young people to make “Bambi” even more beautiful. Now this small building is the most colorful in the whole village”, says Nikolina Lozanovska educator in the center. Lazar Kotevski, a Mayor of Novaci municipality which embraces several villages of the southwest area bordering with Greece is the first and so far unique Mayor in the country who decided to incorporate the early childhood community center in the municipality budget. “Yes, the local government covers the expenses. We want Novaci children to have the best start at school and to have equal opportunities like the urban kids. And when something good starts everybody wants to join – just a week ago the officials from a neighboring factory approached me with an idea to build playground around the center!” This new partnership gives the Mayor hope that the local community can stimulate further support from the private sector.
Children who attended the center throughout 2004 are now enrolled in elementary school. “A couple of days ago I went to see the teacher and asked her how my kids were.” Says Nikolina, the educator.” It is amasing how fast one can see improvement in learning skills and the behaviour of children. The teacher in the elementary school told me that a substantial difference can be noticed among children who attended the center and those who never did – children from the center have more focused attention and much better psychical motority (coordination).” adds Nikolina and continues with her personal history: ”I first heard about UNICEF project for better parenting when my second child was one year old. In fact I started as a beneficiary and ended as a member of the UNICEF early childhood team - after several training courses naturally!” adds Nikolina. Since 1998 UNICEF established and equipped 314 local community centers with the involvement and contribution of local governments, local community leaders and parents. The community centers have helped so far 30,000 children from rural and poor communities to prepare for their first years in primary school. An evaluation of the project carried out in 2003 confirmed that the project Lifestart has provided valuable alternatives to limited pre-school education, that mothers acquired updated parenting skills, and that fathers participated in child-rearing. Only 12% of children in the country attend formal pre-school education. The fee is high and public kindergarten facilities are located in urban areas only. In the process of decentralization UNICEF will use its extensive experience in community-based programmes to ensure that decentralisation ultimately works in the best interests of children. The area-based social development project starting in 2005 in 50 vulnerable communities and 28 municipalities builds on the achievements and networks of the early childhood programme. UNICEF will advocate for other Mayors to follow the example of Lazar Kotevski ensuring sustainability and full engagement of communities.
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