Project: “ACTION AND SUPPORT OF FAMILIES WITH DISABLED CHILDREN IN R. MACEDONIA”

Day Centers (special groups in regular kindergartens) for pre-school age children with intellectual disability

In 1998, in partnership with the European Children Trust, a NGO from UK , PORAKA started with implementation of the project “Action and support of families with disabled children in R. Macedonia”. The project was financed through Phare Lien program. The goals of the project were:     -  Creation of 10 day centers for preschool age children (special groups in regular kindergartens);     -  Lobbying in front of the Government and institutions for provision of services for children with intellectual disability;     -  Awareness raising about the disability issue in R. Macedonia.

Within the project 10 special groups were opened within the regular kindergartens for children with intellectual disability in 10 cities in R. Macedonia: Kumanovo, Skopje , Tetovo, Struga, Ohrid, Bitola , Negotino, Sveti Nikole, Stip and Kocani.

These 10 special groups for children with intellectual disability were equipped with the same play equipment, as well as with special equipment for development.

	SPECIAL GROUPS IN THE KINDERGARDENS	click to zoom any of the photos

The number of the children included in the special groups is in average from 5 to 12 in each group, or in total around 80 children with intellectual disability were included in all 10 special groups.

Training for work with children with intellectual disability was organized for the 20 parents/volunteers (two from each city). British experts conducted the training in three working seminars.

Within the training two study tours were realized, one in UK , and the other one in Stara Zagora in Bulgaria . On these study tours the parents got the opportunity to experience and to learn about the work with intellectually disabled children in foreign countries, and to spread these experiences and knowledge in Macedonia . The training emphasized the inclusion and the participation of the parents in the process of education and decision-making regarding their children with intellectual disability.

After the end of each seminar Manuals were printed for work with children with intellectual disability, in which were included the training subjects of the seminars. The Manuals were distributed to the parents/volunteers, local organizations of PORAKA and to interested citizens and organizations.

One of the basic tasks of the parents/volunteers, beside the work with children in the special groups, was to spread the training over to other parents for work in family environment. For realization of this goal, seminars were organized on local level, where the parents/volunteers were transferring their gained knowledge to other parents of children with intellectual disability.

With the creation of the special groups, different possibilities are providing for the children, as well for the parents. Children with intellectual disability have the opportunity for:
•  Development of their potential and skill since earliest age
•  Advancement of gaining socialization skills
•  Communications with peers
•  Acceptance from the other children (free activities are realized together with the other groups in the kindergarten)
•  Advancement of their sensor and motor skills
•  Inclusion in the regular kindergartens, or regular education system

On the other hand, the parents are getting the opportunity to find a job and to improve the family budget.

With the creation of these special groups and with the inclusion of the children with intellectual disability in the special groups, a significant step forward was made in the process of equalization of their rights. That opened the door for inclusion in the process of regular education, vocational training, and independent living…

The implementation of the project ended in August 2000, but PORAKA, encouraged by the positive results, continued with the work in the special groups. In the past four years, PORAKA was searching for possibilities and was successfully obtaining the continuity of the work in the special groups.