The
spin-off of the program Step by Step has not influenced the relationships
that were established with FOSIM
(www.soros.org.mk)
and its programs, particularly with ones that deal with educational
and children’s issues.FOSIM
strategy for educational programs is similar with the strategy
of Foundation Step by Step, particularly in the activities that
will support improving operation of Foundation Step by Step in
implementing activities for school improvement, implementing programs
with marginalized groups and searching for partnerships. This
proved to be very successful in case of establishing partnership
with USAID (www.usaid.gov).
Our experience shared with the experiences of other programs first
of all experience from the programs with aim developing children’s
education can greatly facilitate the process of negotiation with
the Ministry of Education
Establishing
Step by Step NGO’s in countries that implement child-centered
program Step by Step supported creation of International Step
by Step Association (www.issa.nl).
The aim of the International Step by Step Association is to enhance
the cooperation with other countries that implement Step by Step
program and joint presentation in front of foreign partners. International
Step by Step Association (ISSA) is a non-governmental membership
organization established in Netherlands has already started cooperation
and collaboration with many significant European Foundations and
organizations that share our program’s vision. Among them are
Consultative Group for Early Childhood and Early Education, UNICEF
(www.unicef.org),
UNESCO (www.unesco.org),
OMEP (www.omep.org)
and Foundation Van Leer (www.
bernardvanleer.org).Two
years ago Foundation Step by Step officially presented its activities
during the work of World
Forum for Education organized by Child Center Exchange (www.childcareexchange.org).
World Forum was a tribute to the commitment, energy and enthusiasm
of 60 nations. Educational professionals from all over the world
shared their unique experiences and ideas from implementing different
child-centered programs and methods. Established cooperation and
collaborations among Foundation Step by Step with above mentioned
organizations serve as rich resource for sharing experiences and
information from the field of education with countries from the
region and from other countries in the world.
In
the past years the cooperation with the Ministry
of Labor and Social Policy was more than successful. This
fact is supported with the number of kindergarten’s classrooms
that implement child-centered methodology Step by Step and with
financial support for the project from this ministry.
At the moment with the agreement and support by the Ministry of Education primary school child-centered methodology Step
by Step has its successful implementation in 84 primary schools
in R. Macedonia. Besides the approval and license for implementing
Step by Step primary school child-centered methodology, Foundation
Step by Step and Ministry for Education jointly participated in
presentation in front of primary schools with aim providing work
guidance according to Step by Step methodology for the current
school-year. Future plans involve continuation of our cooperation
with the Ministry of Education on regular bases.
Bureau
for Developing of Education in R. Macedonia is involved in implementation since the begging of the program Step by
Step. Step by Step MTT’s and Councilors from the Bureau for Development
of Education in Macedonia has organized project’s team that jointly
work on planning and realization basic program’s activities.
Collaboration
with the UNICEF office
in Skopje was particularly successful during the Refugee crisis.
As cooperative effort Foundation Step by Step and UNICEF printed
100 00 children picture books in Albanian language.During
May 2003 Foundation Step by Step has started negotiation process
with UNICEF with aim joint campaign for raising public awareness
on issues all marginalized children.
