Children’s earliest years represent a critical phase of development. In the first years of life, starting with conception, and with a focus on the first 1,000 days (until two years of age) and into the next 1000 days, a child’s brain forms neural connections at a speed and complexity never repeated again. These connections are triggered by nurturing care, or the conditions characterized by good health, adequate nutrition, protection from harm and responsive stimulation, including warm and rich communication and playful early learning opportunities. Caregivers and parents have a very important role to play in the development of their children, as their responsive and playful interactions with their children positively and permanently strengthen the actualization of developmental potential. Parents are they key architects of a child’s early environment by enabling the provision of the core ingredients for early brain development – nutrition, stimulation and protection.
A recent study by the Association of Paediatricians and the Institute of Psychology, which aimed to standardize and develop an instrument for early childhood development screening instruments indicates that around 8-12% of children aged 0-6 exhibit developmental risks, while an additional 5% already demonstrate developmental delays or disabilities. Notably, the difference in child development between the poorest and richest quintiles corresponds to a 16-month gap. Based on these findings, it is crucial to focus on providing special attention and support to vulnerable children in Serbia. Various unfavourable indicators for children from the Roma population in Serbia cause particular concern, especially for those who live in marginalized settlements and low-income families. Children from the poorest families (particularly in Roma settlements) in Serbia are involved in early development programs and later education in a significantly lower percentage comparing to general population. At the same time, every 5th child form that population is stunted, they are more exposed to violent disciplinary practice, and they have the least stimulating materials (MICS 6, 2019). Major disparities have been observed between the mortality rates, nutritional status, and education among Roma children and other children. Roma children under the age of 5.5 are far less involved in preschool education. While the coverage of children aged 3 to 5.5 in preschool education amounts to about 50% in the general population, the rate in the Roma population is only 6%.
With this in mind, a network of stakeholders was developed in the municipality of Zemun in Belgrade, Serbia to support the needs that Roma families have in the early development of their children. The network gathers the partners from municipalities in Zemun, given that there is an established multidisciplinary early development support team. Starting from June 2023, a network of stakeholders was established with the municipality of Zemun, the UNICEF office in Serbia, the City Secretariat for social welfare, a preschool institution from Zemin, a Health care center in Zemun (including a development center, pediatric and home visiting nurses service) center for social work Zemun and City Center for Social Work Belgrade and with several NGOs (Center for Youth Integration-CIM, The Belgrade Psychological Center, SOS children village Serbia and Roma Women Center Bibia). As a result of a baseline study, stakeholder mapping activity, consultation with the target group, and extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders and partners, a Lab named" Zemunsko čavororo" was established; objectives and scope of activities were agreed upon and outlined. Participants agreed during several meetings that the Lab will deal with the problem "Support services for Roma families in the field of parenting and early development are poorly available and not adapted to their needs and contexts". There are two possible initiatives in the Lab:
a) Networking and coordination of relevant actors in the field of early development that supports parenting in Roma families
b) Approaches and interventions adjustment to support Roma families in the field of parenting and early development
The LAB activities include regular meetings with the stakeholders with defined actions to be performed by the stakeholders to fulfill the goals. So far, through Lab activities, seven children from vulnerable categories have been enrolled in kindergarten, and 59 children from vulnerable categories have had their vaccinations completed and have been examined by the competent pediatrician at the Developmental Center of the Health Center. The LAB has also developed an action plan for the promotion of the importance of early childhood development directly to the Roma families. This action plan included engaging one Roma mother, who is active on social media, to regularly post on different topics on early childhood development and engage the Roma community through the posts, raising awareness about the importance of vaccination, preschool education and regular medical check-ups (some of the videos and posts are available in the Local Creative Area Section of the LAB).