Preventive programme "Safe and friendly kindergarten".
The Vision
Preschool is the first place a child is exposed to an institution’s environment, therefore it is crucial the environment is safe and friendly, inclusive and supportive of the child’s parents, educational and strengthening for the employees of the institution, and the institution implements a child-centered approach.
To help move towards this goal, non-governmental organizations Latvia’s SOS Children’s Villages association and foundation “Centrs Dardedze” have established a preventive program for preschool education institutions “Safe and friendly kindergarten”.
Programme goals
Promote early identification and resolution of socio-psychological problems through cooperation between preschool employees and a child’s parents.
Reduce the risk of social exclusion and violence directed towards children.
Strengthen cooperation between state, municipal, non-governmental and private sectors by developing a child-centered approach to decision-making on a national and local level.
Latvia’s SOS Children’s Villages association in collaboration with Centrs Dardedze begun developing the program in 2014. based on a study called ‘’Evaluation of early warning system in Riga municipality’’ and the following evaluation conducted by a social anthropologist Aivita Putniņa.
Implementation of the pilot project was begun in 2015. in collaboration with Riga City Council Education, Culture and Sports Department and four pre-school educational institutions in Riga. In 2016. the program got the name ‘’Safe and friendly kindergarten’’ and was divided into 4 stages. The development of the program was funded by Latvia’s SOS Children’s Villages association, OAK Fonds and the Welfare Department of Riga City Council.
At the moment, more than ninety pre-school educational institutions in Latvia are involved in the implementation and acquisition of the program. The program has received approval from Riga municipality and the implementation is carried out in close collaboration with Riga City Council Education, Culture and Sports Department.
Project organizers
Latvia’s SOS Children’s Villages association is a social charity organization, which has provided long-term family model based care for orphans and children, who have lost parental care, as well as implemented family strengthening and support programs in Latvia since 1997. The aim of these programs is to create safe and comfortable conditions for the development of a child, reducing the risk of child abuse and social exclusion and providing specific services for families and children.
Specialists involved in the development and implementation of the program – Dace Cible, Sandra Simsone, Ivita Pukite, Liga Bernate, Eva Beinarovica, Inga Rutule.
‘’Centrs Dardedze’’ is a non-governmental organization. The organization’s main goal is to protect children from violence. ‘’Centrs Dardedze’’ has been providing professional help to child abuse victims and implement programs to reduce the risk of violence directed towards children in a family, school, extracurricular activities, childcare institutions, the internet and the general society.
Specialists involved in the development and implementation of the program– Agnese Sladzevska, Sandra Struberga, Annija Kandate - Smiltina.
