Platform for inclusive early childhood services

On 7 February 2024, we organised the third meeting in Nyíregyháza to build a platform for inclusive early childhood services.

The aim of the platform is to improve the accessibility and quality of early childhood services in Hungary through the cooperation and joint action of families, parents, institutions and civil society actors, to ensure that everyone has access to them, that everyone can use them, and that the proper development of young children is ensured for all through quality education, upbringing, care and other services.

We will create a network of pre-school teachers and other early childhood professionals, as well as staff and members of organisations supporting Roma people and other excluded social groups, to promote inclusive education, early skills care and to encourage life chances for disadvantaged people. In the coming years, we plan to share "Good Practices" widely and provide methodological background and support to parents, professionals and advocacy.

After the presentation of the platform's goals and plans, two beneficiaries of the Carpathian Foundation's Early Years Matter Program (the Somnakuno Drom Roma Women's NGO and the National Association of Roma Women of the 21st Century) presented their activities in the field. The head of the Partners Hungary Foundation presented the operation of the play hubs established in 2023 under the Children First program, followed by the play centres in Kállósemjén and Korlát. We talked about the strategy and steps of platform building and agreed to meet again in April, when we will welcome professional organisations and institutions to our circle.

For more information on the Early Years Matter Program:

https://www.karpatokalapitvany.hu/en/Building-Capacities-Childhood-Marginalized-Roma