Springboard for School Readiness
Newsletter
A meeting with hope
Daniela Dimitrova, Association
“Pleven Community Fund – Chitalishta”, Pleven
Ivana is seven years old and
is the seventh and youngest
child in the family. They
live in the impoverished
neighborhood of Nadezhda
in the Pleven village of
Bozhuritsa. As I enter the
dilapidated house of the
large family, I realize that
hope is their only asset. In
their home, however, scarcity has overwhelmed hope.
In fact the house where
Ivana lives consists of a
single room: kitchen, bedroom, living room and kids’
room all in one. This is the
9-member family’s entire
universe.
A room with a roof that has
been leaking for years. No
electricity, no running water. Fewer furnishings than
children. The parents are
unemployed, while the kids,
like everyone their age,
have dreams. Ivana’s mother never attended school;
she is illiterate. But she
hopes that her children will
have a better life.
Last year Ivana entered
the prep group of Bozhur
kindergarten with her tuition paid for by the Springboard for School Readiness
project. Every day she
comes to the warm and
cozy facility. She plays,
draws, learns Bulgarian and
prepares for school. Today
she is in first grade. Polya
Angelova, principal of
Bozhur, recalls: “Ivana is a
Celebration in Varbovka
Every week the mayor of
Varbovka, Anton Antonov,
invests some of his personal
time to visit the local kindergarten and to talk with
the principal, teachers, parents and kids.
March 1, 2016
Highlights:
 Ivana is the hope of her
mother – page 1
 By working together we
achieve more to support
children – page 1
 Sunny Smiles Children’s
House in Targovishte –
page 2
diligent and quiet child. We
wished her luck on her first
day at school. (cont’d on
page 3)
Working better together
Silvia Boyanova, Association
“Amalipe Center for Interethnic
Dialogue and Tolerance”, Veliko
Tarnovo
Volume 1, Issue 1
 The number of municipalities with free kindergartens is increasing – page 2
 Learn about project 20152016 – page 3
 Good news for early education in New York –
page 4
 How can I help? — page 6
He takes a keen interest in
the preparation of the future students, the successes and difficulties in the
daily work of the teachers
in “Colorful Dreams” kindergarten, and the needs of
the parents. The village has
two cooperatives, through
which… (cont’d on page 5)
 SOS Valchedram — page 6
Sunny Smiles Children’s House
Nevena Madzharova, Association “Club of
Non-Governmental Organisations”, Targovishte
Every Saturday children from the
Malcho Malchev neighborhood in
Targovishte attend a unique preschool activities group called Sunny
Smiles Children’s House. The initiative was undertaken by the NGO
Club – Targovishte in partnership
with Habitat Bulgaria and with the
financial support of the VELUX
foundations.
Eugenia Volen, TSA
children!
This is why I attend the Saturday
classes every week,”- shares Baise,
one of the mothers at Sunny Smiles.
The arguments of attending parents
in support of early education convinced the mother of 4-year-old
Angel to enroll him in kindergarten.
Our team uses interactive tech-
The Children’s House
program is in its
third month and is
attended by approximately 20 future
and current students
aged 3 - 10 years.
We were aiming for
an entertaining curriculum in order to
motivate kids to also
visit us on their days
off school.
The fact that our
rooms echo with
laughter even on
The children participate with interest in Saturday classes
the coldest Saturdays means our mission has been a
niques to blend educational material
success.
with play in an interesting and easily
comprehensible manner.
We also invite the mothers to devote those Saturday hours to the
When asked what she likes the
kids, to play and draw with them, to
most, 7-year-old Nansen replies: “I
sing and talk. “Children are the most
like everything, but drawing is the
important, the most precious thing.
best. And also singing in a circle.
Knowing that we will be coming on
Well, I also like the other things –
Saturday, I cook the day’s meal the
solving problems, playing with the
evening before. In the morning we
toys. The Children’s House is a very
rise and start preparing to come
happy place.”
here. It is interesting for me as
well. At home we only think about
work, but here we talk about other
things and mostly about the
P. 2
The number of municipalities
with free kindergartens is
increasing
The number of municipalities that
have waived or decreased substantially the tuition for kindergarten attendance for all children aged 3 - 6
years old is growing at an impressive
rate. In some communities the measure is a part of a long-term policy directed towards social integration of
poor population groups, as in the case
of Tundzha municipality. In municipalities like Kavarna, Sozopol and
Etropole, besides the social policy,
the strong business sector has a favorable influence. Zlataritsa municipality adopted a free kindergarten
policy for 2014 – 2015. The decision
was motivated by the desire of the
local authorities to provide the benefits of the Springboard for School
Readiness to all residents, rather
than just to the families falling within
the project’s scope. In Targovishte
municipality the active parent community was a key factor. The small
Rhodopa municipality of Banite is the
newest addition to the list of pioneers improving the accessibility of
early education.
Preschool education is included in
many mayors’ electoral campaigns and,
as a result, we are seeing a decrease
in tuition in Burgas and Haskovo and a
growing interest in the topic among
other municipalities.
In Sofia, we are attentively following
these developments, we are discussing them with colleagues and we sincerely hope that experts at the Council of Ministers and Parliament read
the same news as we do.
Springboard for School Readiness
Project 2015-2016
Trust for Social Achievement (TSA)
On September 15, 2015, more than 400 children, supported in regularly attending kindergarten by the Springboard
for School Readiness project, advanced successfully to 1st
grade. This year, TSA’s team continues the hard work toward the project’s objectives. In partnership with 16 nongovernmental organizations we cover the expenses
(official and hidden) for kindergarten attendance of more
than 2100 children from 125 vulnerable communities
throughout Bulgaria. According to TSA’s data 50 percent
of these children started attending kindergarten for the
first time thanks to the project.
field of early education. The meeting provided a focus for
the aims of the network for the coming years: advocacy
for free kindergarten for all children in Bulgaria!
Map of communities participating
in the 2015 – 2016 project
The World Bank will continue evaluating the project with
the aim of proving its impact on enrollment and regular
attendance. The first results of the evaluation are expected in the summer of 2016.
We also continue to develop the skills of our partner organizations. In November, 2015 we organized yet another
Experience Exchange meeting. We invited representatives
of municipalities and civil organizations pioneering in the
A meeting with hope (cont’d from page 1)
And this wish came true. If her kindergarten attendance
fee were not covered, she would not have adapted to the
education system. Although many of the children in our
kindergarten are technically bilingual, they experience
difficulties with Bulgarian. At school they often drop out
early, because they do not understand the language and
studying proves an insurmountable challenge. We work
hard to ensure that all of our children finish kindergarten with a maximum level of proficiency in Bulgarian.”
I had a long conversation with Polya Angelova. It turns
out that she is also principal of two other kindergartens
in neighboring villages just as poor as Bozhuritsa. She is
familiar with the problems faced by the families there.
Polya is caring and grateful for the opportunity to stimulate parents, so that their children can attend kindergarten. “Without this opportunity they would have stayed at
home,” the principal explains.
Inspired by Springboard for School Readiness Polya Angelova initiated a project for the construction of a playground in the yard of the educational facility. Today the
Volume 1, Issue 1
swings and slides are a part of a happy area surrounding
the building. A second project renewed the furniture in
Bozhur. It provided new cupboards, tables and chairs to
create a more aesthetic and hospitable atmosphere for
the children.
After the start of the project and with the support of
Pleven Community Fund – CHITALISHTA, the cooperation
between the kindergarten, the local community center and
the senior club was revived. Each official holiday is an
occasion for the future students from Bozhur to present
songs, dances and poems to the community. For the Day of
the Christian Family the women from the senior club prepared special gifts for the children.
“Ivana is my hope come true. This means that there is
hope for all children.” – concludes Polya Angelova. I am
leaving the village of Bozhuritsa with her hopes and mine
for the neighborhood of Nadezhda (editor’s note: in Bulgarian “Nadezhda” means hope).
P. 3
The Big Preschool
Ambitions of the Big Apple
Eugenia Volen, Trust for Social Achievement
For two years of service the mayor of New York,
The program relies on data collection and analysis in order
Bill de Blasio, has managed to increase the number
to continuously improve the offered services. The city is
of 4-year-olds attending prekindergarten from
spending $10,200 per child per year, more than two times
20,000 to 69,000. How did he achieve this ambitious
the national average of $4,125.
result? Simple: he introduced free
Critics point out that the program
full-day kindergarten and guaranworks mostly to the benefit of
teed enrollment and quality educaNew York serves as an inspiring middle- and upper-class families
tion for every kid. Well, perhaps it
that could otherwise afford to pay
example of fast, universal and
is not that simple.
for kindergarten services. Mayor
efficient adoption of free
In order to implement the initiaBlasio agrees that regardless of
tive, 2,000 teachers were recruitprekindergarten
the universal access during the
ed, 3,000 classrooms opened and
first year the number of kids en300 daycare facilities licensed,
rolled in rich neighborhoods was
many of which are managed by nongreater than the that in poor areas.
governmental organizations. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve
That is why during the second year the municipality mounted
ever been part of,” says Richard Buery, the deputy
a door-to-door campaign to persuade parents of the benemayor who oversaw the program. “Every aspect has
fits of kindergarten for the development of their children.
been a challenge.”… “This is a school system with a lot
“For some parents that’s just not something they’ve thought
of kids living in poverty, a lot of kids who are Englishabout before or something they experienced as a child, and
language learners, a lot of kids with special needs, but
so it takes time to convince them all it will work.” Partly
it’s working,” states Blasio.
thanks to the campaign the number of enrolled 4-year-olds
increased from 53,000 to 69,000.
In the United States five-year-olds benefit from free
preschool education and start school at 6. In many
states prekindergarten for 3 – 4 year-olds is an expensive service. In 2004, Tennessee offered free prekindergarten, enrolling the state’s neediest 4-year-olds,
but did not invest in curriculum structure and teacher
development. Ten years later there is no evidence that
prekindergarten has contributed to the cognitive development of the attending children. The residents of
Florida voted for the right to free kindergarten in
2005, but the state did not increase the allocated
budget and quality suffered as a result.
Bill de Blasio, it seems, has taken note of these examples because he relies on universal access paired with
quality. The teachers have a bachelor’s degree and receive in-class tutoring and help from social workers.
The classes are small in size, while the curriculum is
based on research and includes “learning through play”
methods.
P. 4
Bill de Blasio also highlights the strong public support for
the universal measure. It allows the municipality to invest
substantial resources and achieve notable results: 92% of
the parents rate their child’s experience as good or excellent.
New York serves as an inspiring example of fast, universal
and efficient adoption of free kindergarten. As they say in
the emblematic song, if you can make it in New York, you can
make it anywhere. Even in Bulgaria…
David Kirp, How New York Made Pre-K a Success, February 13, 2016;
Does Pre-K Make Any Difference?, October 3, 2015, New York Times
Robert Siegel’s interview with Bill de Blasio, September 8, 2015, NPR Radio
Springboard for School Readiness
Working better together (cont’d from page 1)
the mayor manages to secure additional support for the purchase of
toys, books and new furniture for the
kindergarten.
The key to success of the Varbovka
“...the dialogue, mutual trust
and care for the future of the
children make possible the
collaboration between all parties
involved in the process.”
kindergarten lies in the unique model
of cooperation between the local authorities, businesses, the non-profit
sector and the management of the
preschool facility, all dedicated to a
common cause: for the children at the
kindergarten to be happy, loved, encouraged and united. The partners
are working towards the improvement
of the education process and retention of the children in the education
system through regular meetings with
parents, renovation of facilities and
provision of clothes and toys.
“The kindergarten is warm and offers
excellent conditions for raising and
educating children,” says Diana Filipova, principal of “Colorful Dreams”.
She adds that the dialogue, mutual
trust and care for the future of the
children make possible the collaboration between all parties involved in
the process.
The work of the parental committee
is supported by a community mediator.
“I share your happiness about the
Active parents are members of the
joint school and kindergarten parental improvements achieved for the kids
in Varbovka,” says Mr. Manolov. He
committee, with whose help a music
underlines that Varbovka is the only
teacher was employed. The parental
community in the municipality with a
committee manages and leases the
school’s land to support the activity of
the educational institutions. The municipality and the business sector are cofinancing the building
of a new playground;
new equipment and
treats for public holiMeeting of the joint school and kindergarten parental committee
days were purchased.
A young man who returned home afpositive population growth.
ter working in America for many
We are working better together!
years donated tables for the organiCooperation takes persistence, dezation of events at the kindergarten.
sire and understanding. This is proven by a small village in Pavlikeni muWith the support of the mayor of
nicipality where all are united in
Pavlikeni municipality Emanuil Manolov
their efforts to provide a better
the kindergarten receives wood from
life for children.
cleared regional roads to decrease its
heating costs. Through participation
in different projects and with the
help of the partners from Center
Amalipe the kindergarten managed to
improve its facilities. The parents
rarely need to make additional payments to support their child’s kindergarten attendance.
The Springboard for School Readiness team
Wishes you
Happy Baba Marta!
Volume 1, Issue 1
P. 5
SPRINGBOARD FOR SCHOOL READINESS is an
initiative of Trust for Social Achievement
64 Patriarh Evtimii Blvd. , Sofia 1000
Т: 0882-453-281
E: [email protected]
W: www.socialachievement.org
F: facebook.com/gotovizauchilishte
The materials in this newsletter are prepared by the partner organizations of the
Springboard for School Readiness initiative. Editors: Pepa Nikolaeva-Byrne and
Eugenia Volen.
How can I help?
We wish to thank:
Overall funding
Contributors
This school year the efforts of
the team were supported by a
number of publishing houses and
companies that produce and distribute teaching aids. The donated materials amount to almost
8,000 leva and will allow us to
cover the tuition of an additional
30 children for the entire school
year! Thank you!
The kindergartens we are working with are still in need of
teaching aids, educational materials and equipment: books for
reading and drawing, educational
games, musical instruments, cameras, pens, water colors and even
colored paper.
Children from low income families often need new slippers, pajamas, shoes and coats: things
that their unemployed parents
find it difficult to provide and
that sometimes stop them from
sending the kids to kindergarten.
Help us fill the kindergartens in poor
communities with happiness! Bring
your donation to the office of the
Trust for Social Achievement in Sofia
and we will distribute it through our
partner network to the neediest kin-
dergartens and families! You can also
make a financial donation to Springboard for School Readiness here:
BGN: BG07BGUS91601002307301
USD: BG78BGUS91601102307300
BIC CODE: BGUSBGSF
Bulgarian-American Credit Bank
AD, Sofia
Account holder: Trust for Social
Achievement Foundation
SOS Valchedram
On February 8, Patilantsi kindergarten in the town of Valchedram
was broken into and robbed. The
heartless perpetrators stole the
entire inventory of the kindergarten: computers, printers, a photocopier, a digital camera and an audio system.
Help the children and personnel
of Patilantsi kindergarten to
overcome this predicament! Let’s
light up their faces together!
You can donate equipment for
Patilantsi kindergarten by bringing
it or sending it to the office of
the Trust for Social Achievement.