The NGO Neemia (Ukrainian nehemia team), in cooperation with the German nehemia team and the BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), is has expanded and developed the nehemia Centre in Uzhgorod into a ‘Centre for Child-Centered Education, Inclusion and Social Services’ from 2021-2023, starting with the extension and conversion of the nehemia centre to create space for the new project.
Qualified members of the nehemia team and international experts will then offer various training courses for educators, social workers, administrative staff and foster parents. The topics of the courses will focus on ‘inclusion’ and ‘child-centred education’. In addition, model curricula for schools as well as corresponding teaching and learning materials are developed and made available. Furthermore, foster parents and employees in family living groups who take in orphans from state-run homes are empowered to better support these children in their development and deal with the challenges appropriately.
As a result, the education system in Transcarpathia is undergoing lasting change, disadvantaged children are being supported and are increasingly being given the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
How it all came about
The new government in Ukraine is breaking new ground under the presidency of Volodymyr Zelenskyi and initiated a series of reforms in the area of education and social services in 2019. As a result, the topics of ‘inclusion’ and ‘child-centred education’ became the focus of education policy. Since then, the authorities have had a legal mandate to promote inclusion, but do not have sufficient knowledge and expertise and are therefore looking for civil society cooperation partners. The deputy head of government of Transcarpathia and the leaders of the city of Uzhgorod urgently asked the Ukrainian nehemia team for support in implementing these reform efforts: a great opportunity to shape the education system in the long term with a pedagogy based on Christian values.
With the support of the BMZ and the German nehemia team, an inclusive model primary school was built on the nehemia centre’s premises back in 2019. The Centre for Child-Friendly Education, Inclusion and Social Services is now the next project to help develop skills, knowledge and abilities in the country.
Supported with grants from „Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung“.
VIDEOS
The Center of NGO Neemia Ukraine – an Overview
Visit of the Ukrainian First Lady, Olga Selenska, to the ‘neemia’ Centre
