The initiative "A Better Start for School – Early Childhood Development in Vulnerable Communities," which we supported, addresses the long-term consequences of neglecting segregated urban areas such as the Fakulteta neighborhood, where access to early education and support for vulnerable families is severely limited.
According to official data, the neighborhood's population is around 14,600, but is estimated in reality at 30,000–45,000, with nearly 25% being children. This means thousands of families are affected by the lack of access to quality early care. The most vulnerable are children aged 0–6, during this critical period for developing language, cognitive, and social-emotional skills.
In conditions of high unemployment, social insecurity, and limited early learning and care services, many children start school without basic preparation. There is not a single kindergarten in the neighborhood, and against the backdrop of a significant shortage of kindergarten places in the city of Sofia, only a limited number of children manage to enroll in neighboring districts. The only local alternative is the pre-school groups at 75th Primary School, where children are admitted from age 5 — which is too late to catch up on gaps, especially for children living in conditions that are not conducive to their development. Thus, poverty, lack of opportunity, and social isolation create a persistent cycle of vulnerability that affects children most severely.
The Fakulteta neighborhood is one of the few densely populated areas without access to a kindergarten and without any concrete plans to build such infrastructure in the near future. This makes it all the more imperative for the Sofia Municipality to direct strategic efforts toward supporting alternative services such as this one in the neighborhood. The initiative is fully aligned with the Strategy for the Development of Nurseries and Kindergartens, presented in early 2026, which sets a goal for every child in Sofia to have access to a place in a nursery, kindergarten, or an alternative form of publicly supported care by the end of 2027.
From the beginning of 2026 until March, the "With Us – Sunny Ray" Foundation implemented the initiative, targeting 12 children (ages 3–5) and their parents. The families have low income and limited access to services. Within a tiny space in the neighborhood, the organization's team carried out various activities — daily educational sessions, social-emotional learning, and work with parents. The children develop language and social skills in a structured environment, while parents receive support for learning at home.
Our support for the day service came at a critical moment. At the end of 2025, it became clear that the "With Us – Sunny Ray" Foundation could no longer rely on the long-standing funding for the service that had been available until then. The transitional support from us allowed the team to continue its work and seek a sustainable model for the future.
"A Better Start for School" is a small but key step toward breaking the cycle of vulnerability and creating real opportunities for children.
Investments in early childhood development are investments in the future of society as a whole. Supporting children and their families at the earliest age is the most effective way to break the cycle of poverty and exclusion and to create equal opportunities for development.