News article
The recent experience with the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the "professional isolation" of early childhood education practitioners, as the possibilities for mutual connection and sharing of practices have been greatly reduced. It also highlighted that the digital competencies of professionals need to be strengthened.
Against this backdrop, the idea of developing a green education project that enables valuable international exchanges among early childhood educators via virtual study visits was born.
News article
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 of Roma and other marginalized groups.
Issa Practices
We used the method of “Social accountability and Legal Empowerment", with the to empower the Roma community, to learn their rights in the Social and Health domains. In Macedonia, Governmental prevention programs for reproductive and child health are offered. In those programs, it is also included the program for active protection of the mother and children. Our aim is to empower Roma women to take up benefits, measures and activities that are offered free to pregnant women, and families who use social welfare.
Resource
During the pandemic, the NGO “KHAM" Delcevo had an important role to play in raising awareness among the Roma community about how to be protected from COVID-19. In order to achieve our objectives we implemented online education for pregnant women about going to the Gynecologist and taking care of their children’s physical and mental health. Also, we supported Roma children living in poverty, and families with low income to attend the online education. Finally, we supported Roma families who were affected by the economic crisis to apply for social welfare benefits.
News article
ISSA member Foundation for Educational and Cultural Initiatives Step by Step (SbS) from the Republic of North Macedonia is implementing projects and initiatives to support teachers’ professional development and raise the possibilities for all children to achieve their full potential through education, training courses, workshops, and educational events for over 20 years. The Foundation manages, coordinates, participates and directly implements activities that promote innovation, progress and development of work in preschools and primary schools.
Resource
Manual for educators and parents for use of picture books is an adaptation of ISSA’s activity books "Opening Magic Doors – Reading and Learning together with children" done by Step by Step Foundation for Education and Cultural Initiatives Macedonia (FECIM). The ISSA's activity books are adapted for eight of the 20 children's picture books that FECIM had selected to publish under the USAID "Readers are Leaders Project".
Resource
Handbook with activities for work with students with disabilities for improving their literacy and numeracy skills contains 20 activities for lower grades of the primary school . Two special educators from a special primary school in Macedonia made an adaptation of ten activities from each of the two previously published handbooks (“Step by Step to Literacy” and “Learn Math through Play”).
Resource
The Macedonian handbook Math through play is comprised of 50 activities that aim to improve lower grade students’ numeracy skills. All activities are divided in six teaching and learning areas (Numbers; Math Operations; Measurement; Data Analysis; Word problems and Geometry) as defined in the Macedonian national teaching curricula. The Handbook describes each activity separately, including the necessary materials, the preparation process and the method of conducting the activity. Additionally, each activity is supported with one or more photos presenting the preparation process.
Resource
The Macedonian handbook Step by Step to Literacy- 50 activities for improving student literacy skills is composed of 50 activities divided in six teaching and learning areas (Listening and talking; Reading and writing; Language; Literature; Verbal expression and creative writing and Media culture) as defined in the Macedonian national teaching curricula for the first three grades.
News article
June 1, 2018
As many ISSA members in Eastern Europe celebrate Children’s Day today, the reality of funding limitations for programs that support young children underscores the festivities. Funding cuts often hit the most essential programs—the very programs that give vulnerable children the opportunity to reach their full potential.
In honor of Children’s Day, the ISSA network joins together to save one of these essential programs.
The Program
