2 0 YE A R S Ч ЕКОР ПО Ч Е КОР ST E P BY ST E P IN MACEDONIA On the last day of September, we would like to greet all educators who, exactly 20 years ago, started practicing the educational methodology “Step by Step” in 10 kindergartens in Macedonia, as well as the 500 educators from all kindergartens in the country who joined in the next year. A year later, teachers from ten primary schools got involved, and every other year more and more teachers, school directors and members of the student support teams were getting involved in the program. In the year 2000 only, more than 5000 teachers went through the trainings that we organized. We thank all of them! Perhaps many educators still remember the topics covered with the trainings: individualization, active learning methods, creating a stimulating learning environment, teaching and learning in centers of activity, cooperation with parents, and a number of other modules requested by the teachers. The number of initiatives that we were realizing was getting increased, too: we announced an open call for authors and illustrators and we published 11 new picture books for children, we opened the Children's Creative Center, which is still the only center of this type on the Balkans, we established cooperation with the teacher training faculties, we conducted trainings for school improvement, social justice, programs for children from socially disadvantaged families, Roma Children, we participated in the implementation of the Education Modernization Project, as well as in several USAID funded projects – Creative Teaching and Learning Project, Roma Education Project and Primary Education Project. With all of these initiatives, trainings and projects, we tried to share the following values and beliefs that we represent: - Holistic approach in children's development, - Learning is a life-long process, - Education needs to be based on the most recent and best researches made in the ﬁeld of pedagogy and psychology, - Instruction should change and adapt to the time that we live in, - Children should actively participate in the learning process, - Family and Community Involvement in the work of the school. And ﬁnally, we are all role-models for our children, both the teachers and the parents, as well as other members of the family and community in which the children grow and develop. www.stepbystep.org.mk Economic and social crisis negatively inﬂuence the time in which we live and our children grow up. The crisis also inﬂuence on the life of the teachers, which, truthfully speaking, has never been very easy. My parents worked as teachers and they always said: It is hard to live on a teacher's salary! However, they always reminded us how important it is to get educated, to aim for continuous development and never settle down for less. We, at the Foundation “Step by Step”, hold a deep respect for the teaching profession, which, unfortunately is being less and less appreciated, and we know that despite all, there are educators who love and nurture their profession because of their deep affection and devotion to children. These educators share their knowledge, skills and values with the young children which will support the children in becoming free and educated citizens and will enable them to make contribution for a democratic and developed country in which we all want to live and which makes us all proud. We pledge to continue protecting the values that we have represented ever since: stimulating children's critical thinking, develop potential of all children and particularly of the children living on the margins of the society, enhance teaching process and establish collaborations to undertake initiatives aimed at fulﬁlling creative and intellectual potentials of the children, teachers and parents. These pledges overlap with what the Nobel Prize winning University of Chicago Professor, James Heckman, has said: “If you invest in early-childhood development from birth until the age of ﬁve, much can be achieved. It is the solution to better education and better health, less crime and greater economic prosperity.” If all of the initiatives realized during these 20 years have contributed in accumulating knowledge and values with the teachers and have contributed for successful implementation of projects which аre applicable to date, we will be very satisﬁed. We will be satisﬁed and prepared to continue toward the changes that we have started 20 years ago. We will continue the walk step by step with all of you who want to create a better world for the children, who believe that early-childhood education, quality education, equal opportunities for all and ongoing professional and personal development really matter! With respect and affection to all who believe in the children! Suzana Kirandziska Executive Director 2 0 YE A R S Ч ЕКОР ПО Ч Е КОР ST E P BY ST E P IN MACEDONIA www.stepbystep.org.mk “STEP BY STEP” THROUGH THE YEARS: 1994 - 2001: The education-reform program “Step by Step” is introduced in Macedonia and gradually expands into a large number of kindergartens and primary schools around the country 1999: The Foundation for Education and Cultural Initiatives "Step by Step" - Macedonia was established as a non-proﬁt nongovernmental organization by Foundation Open Society - Macedonia, with the aim to continue the educational program “Step by Step” and started to work independently. ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS IN WHICH THE FOUNDATION “STEP BY STEP” HAS TOOK PART DURING THE PERIOD OF 2002 – 2012: USAID Interethnic Integration in Education Project USAID Primary Education Project International Teacher Leadership Project USAID Roma Education Project Roma Early Childhood Inclusion Project USAID Creative Teaching and Learning Roma Education Initiative Macedonia Social Inclusion of Children and Youth from Underprivileged Regions in Macedonia THE FOUNDATION “STEP BY STEP” IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS: USAID Readers are Leaders Project USAID Teacher Professional and Career Development Project Project for (Self) Empowerment of Roma Parents and Children Project “Principles of good practice - Competent Teachers for the 21st Century” www.stepbystep.org.mk TIN A PETRA LIDIJA VIKI KIKA ANA SIMONA ELEN A DENI MAJDA DANIEL BRANKA SUZANA ANE ZOR GJOR GJI PETAR ICA MIROSLA V ELEONORA The team of experienced professionals was expanded with new members who have practice with project working. The Foundation also collaborates with teachers, representatives from the student support staff in the schools, kindergarten/school directors, representatives from the educational institutions, university professors and other national and international experts. THE HECKMAN EQUATION ON EARLY-CHILDHOOD EDUCATION The Foundation "Step by Step" - Macedonia is part of the International Step by Step Association - ISSA, which gathers organizations and professionals who work in the ﬁeld of early childhood development and education. Established in the Netherlands in 1999, ISSA's community today stretches across Central and Eastern Europe, Cntral Asia and North and South America. Evethough, it offers various information for all interested organizations and individuals, the core of the association is comprised of 29 NGOs which implement the Step by Step Program, initiated by the Open Society Foundations and Georgetown University from Washington in 1994. Invest in educational and developmental resources for disadvantaged families to provide equal access to successful early human development Develop early development of cognitive and social skills in children from birth to age ﬁve Sustain early development with effective education through to adulthood Gain more capable, productive and valuable citizens James Heckman, Nobel Prize winning University of Chicago Professor Foundation “Step by Step” – Macedonia Blvd. Partizanski Odredi nr.72a 1000 Skopje, Macedonia Phone/Fax: + 389 2 3077-900 www.stepbystep.org.mk