Despite efforts in recent years to improve working conditions in the education system and increase the attractiveness of the teaching profession, many kindergartens serving underprivileged communities in Bulgaria still face serious difficulties in attracting new educators to their teams.
Hiring specialists from local communities who possess the necessary qualifications would help overcome these challenges. However, in small and more isolated settlements, young people often lack adequate professional qualifications or are long-term unemployed. At the same time, in some communities there are no representatives of the respective community (Roma, Turkish, etc.) among the teaching staff, which deprives children of role models from their own ethnic, cultural, or linguistic group and makes their integration more difficult.
To address this systemic problem, since 2018 TSA has been developing an initiative for the professional qualification and employment of representatives from local communities in local kindergartens. In this way, it creates role models for young children and provides opportunities for professional development to young people from the community who need support to complete higher education and find realization in the labor market. The initiative works effectively in settlements affected by poverty, Roma communities, Turkish communities, and others. It is long-term in nature, as it aims to support participants during their university application process and throughout their studies in pedagogical specialties. Participants are provided with internships and practical training in kindergartens, and joint work is carried out with kindergarten management and municipal authorities to ensure their employment in the same kindergarten after graduation. We already have more than 15 young specialists from the Roma community who have started working in kindergartens within the framework of the initiative.
As a result of the initiative, hundreds of children of Roma ethnicity now have role models from their own community among their teachers and educators in kindergarten.
Success Stories
Verginiya – between caring for children and university lectures
Toni’s dream of becoming a teacher
I want to set a good example for the children
Short video about the program