News

Marking International Roma Day with the CHAVORE Quest

This year, we are marking the day with the launch of the CHAVORE Quest, an interactive, multilingual experience available in five CHAVORE languages. The Quest introduces a new way of supporting children’s mental health, well-being, and inclusion inviting users to explore, reflect, and learn through a more playful and participatory format.

Educational opportunities for Roma parents are having a positive impact on their children

ISSA Member NGO KHAM is a North Macedonian civil organization that has been actively working in the East Bregalnica region for over 20 years and has implemented more than 60 projects related to the improvement of social, economic and cultural rights…

Resources to help Ukrainian children continue their education

A new online platform is supporting families and children affected by the war in Ukraine to easily access distance learning. The “Ukrainian Online Schedule” by the Ministry of Education in Ukraine in partnership with other institutions, including…

Call open for funds to support children and families displaced from Ukraine

ISSA Member, Refugee Trauma Initiative (RTI) has opened a call for organizations who are responding to meet the needs of recently displaced communities from Ukraine. RTI has solid experience in responding to crisis supporting organizations…

ISSA stands for all young children and families impacted by the war in Ukraine

From the first day of the war in Ukraine, the ISSA Network mobilized itself to respond to this horrendous crisis. We are in regular contact with our member organizations in Ukraine, which continue to work on behalf of young children, even in life-…

EDUCAS project – Achievements of the Consortium

EDUCAS project awarded with Epos quality label for 'Good practice in 2021' In March 2022, Epos agency, responsible for the implementation in Flanders of various programs and actions, such as the …

Editorial: The first years of life must be the first priority

The first years of life must be the first priority in times of peace, and even more in times of war. Children represent a country’s most precious treasure and the treasure of our world. Right now, millions of Ukrainian…

Associazione 21 Luglio Brings a Mobile Play Hub to Community Meeting Spots in Rome

February 15, 2022

TOY for Inclusion Play Hubs give children a save, welcoming place to interact, play and spend quality time with other children and adults. As part of their work to fight educational poverty and create growth opportunities from a young age,…

Sensible Transfer of Information – One of the Key Elements of Smooth Transitions

January 11, 2022

Children undergo various transitions during their early years. Previous research (Balduzzi et al., 2019) has clearly shown that smooth transitions support both children’s and their parents’ wellbeing. The sensible transfer of information is one of…

Wide Open School: "Learning from ISSA Network is a Huge Added Value of our Membership"

December 15, 2021

ISSA Member in Slovakia Wide Open School is an open non-profit organization focused on community development and lifelong learning in socially disadvantaged groups with an emphasis on families, especially with children in early age, and with an…

Diversity+ Transnational Partners Meeting in Slovakia

November 22, 2021

Last week, the partners of the Diversity+ project spent two days in Bratislava for the first in-person Transnational Partners Meeting warmly hosted by a project partner and ISSA Member Skola Dokoran – Wide Open School. The meeting brought together…

For Our Children has Published “Bulgaria Grows with its Children” Study

November 8, 2021

Recent European studies show that quality of education and care in the early childhood depends on the presence of a professional and competent workforce. As part of their research on early childhood development, ISSA Member, For Our Children…

Diversity+ Charter: Supporting First Steps Towards Diversity Positive ECEC Services

October 28, 2021

The Diversity+ project provides ECEC professionals, managers and practitioners with governance, benchmarking, recognition and professionalization tools to help them transform their practice and open up to diversity that exists among children…

ISSA Connects: Building your Organization’s Resilience with the Resiliency+ Framework

October 22, 2021

On November 2, 3, and 4, ISSA is hosting another opportunity to Connect. ISSA Connects for Learning will include three professional development sessions, all free of charge. We asked workshop facilitators to share who their session is…

ISSA Connects: How Can We Support Meaningful Interactions in Early Childhood Education and Care?

October 13, 2021

On November 2, 3 and 4 ISSA is hosting another opportunity to Connect. ISSA Connects for Learning will include three professional development sessions, all free of charge. We asked workshop facilitators to share who their session is for and why you…

ISSA Connects: Early Childhood Education and Care during the Pandemic

October 12, 2021

On November 2, 3 and 4 ISSA is hosting another opportunity to Connect. ISSA Connects for Learning will include three professional development sessions, all free of charge. We asked workshop facilitators to share who their session is for and why…

Peer Learning Activities 2020 - A Conversation with An Raes

September 2, 2021

Early years settings have a huge role to play in society. They contribute to children’s learning and development, support them to develop social relations, and function as a ‘gateway’ into society. They also allow parents to work, engage in…

Social Justice Begins in Early Childhood

Over the last few weeks, we have witnessed a massive mobilization of the Roma minority in Europe standing against injustice and the devastating outcomes of antigypsyism. Recent events in the Czech Republic sadly show how the discrimination, social…

Peer Learning Activities 2020 - A conversation with Gillian Cante

Many recent neurological studies have shown that violent and malicious educational practices impact a child’s emotional development and self-esteem. Questioning, defining, and understanding them in order modify our reactions becomes essential. This…

Peer Learning Activities 2020 - A Conversation with Zsuzsa László

The Persona Doll Method is a practical approach to help children talk about emotions and feelings in early childhood settings. The method provides a powerful, non-threatening, and enjoyable way to raise equality issues and counter stereotypical and…

Peer Learning Activities 2020 - A Conversation with Maksim Struzhkin

For professionals working to create inclusive environments in schools and preschools, many questions arise. How do you ensure your school fits any requirements? How do you provide adequate infrastructure? How are you sure to provide a rich…

ISSA Seeks Senior Program Manager

The International Step by Step Association (ISSA) is a vibrant international network that connects professionals and non-profit organizations working in the field of early childhood development. Established in the Netherlands in 1999, ISSA’s…

ISSA Members are at the Forefront of Innovations in the Early Years Sector in Europe

The European Commission’s ECEC webinar “Working with families and the whole community” last week highlighted 7 initiatives from across Europe. ISSA or ISSA Members have been actively engaged in each of them. VBJK and were involved in the START…

Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic – InTrans Policy Recommendations

In the last decade, children’s transitions across the home environment, early childhood education and care (ECEC), and compulsory school education have gained attention both in academic and policy debates. Despite this, very few…

The Road of Early Childhood to National Plans for Recovery and Resilience – a successful advocacy effort in Italy

COVID-19 pandemic is putting all countries in Europe under a hard test now: the ‘early childhood’ test, or in other words, the ‘long-term, visionary investment in the youngest generation’ test. While across the European Union, Member States are…