About us Association “DUGA” team is a group of enthusiasts of different professional backgrounds, summoned around the idea that it is possible to make changes in the society by devoting to the mutual values and initiation of required and functional changes.
Our Mission and Vision Our vision is of a society of equal opportunities for every child and young person. Association “DUGA” builds competencies of marginalised children and youth to become active society members by:
2017. Yearly Report for the Organisation
• Empowering the key inclusive stakeholders • Strengthening the functional, educational and social skills of marginalised children and youth • Developing new programs and methodologies for the improvement of client services • Establishing the standards for inclusive education
ASSOCIATION “DUGA” Petra Tiješića 10 71000 Sarajevo, BiH dugabih@bih.net.ba 033 460 288 fb/dugabih/
ASSOCIATION “DUGA”
The developing perspective After two decades spent primarily in primary school education, we anticipate the repositioning of our resources towards the empowerment of resources available to families of preschool children. Many difficulties often experienced by older children would be prevented in cooperation with the public preschool institution “Children of Sarajevo”. This is a way to contribute to the development of active communities which recognise the value of early learning and life-skills acquisition.
Programs review Circle of Friends Methodology Social inclusion program for peers, parents and teachers Supported by Open Society Foundation and Ministry for Work and Social Politics
Inclusive Education
Person Centred Planning Person Cantered Planning training provided by partner organisation Inclusive Solutions, UK intends to ensure better quality planning for children and adults with disabilities. DUGA intends to promote this approach in working with persons with disabilities, thus adopting it as one of its programs in the year 2018.
“From my experience, children need to feel involved, not just to be the recipients of information. This way of working has placed A. at the centre and he found his way around perfectly well.” A.K.’s mother
Training for 110 Ministry of Education, Pedagogical Institutes and school representatives aimed at their professional competencies development in inclusive education Project implementation supported by UNICEF BiH
Support to Children with Developmental Difficulties Encouragement to children with developmental difficulties to develop their potentials, master the academic and life skills, and fulfil their right to quality inclusive education Supported by Partage, France, Municipality Centre Sarajevo and Light for the World, Austria
Circle of Friends methodology Circle of Friends methodology in BiH: Open Society Foundation UK created an opportunity for educators and teachers to participate in the Circle of Friends training, as well as the implementation of this peer support program for 202 children.
Trained educators and teachers promoted Circles of Friends: 311 educators and teachers participated in the workshops implemented through the support of Ministry for Work and Social Politics. 145 educators from the public institution “Children of Sarajevo” learnt about the Circle of Friends methodology. They also came to better understand the impact peers have on the development of social skills in the earliest childhood. 166 teachers from 10 primary schools in Canton Sarajevo took part in the workshops about the establishment of peer support in overcoming the barriers facing children in the school environment.
Ask the children! The manual for educators and parents Social inclusion program for peers, parents and teachers We support the role educational institutions have in the socialisation of every child by empowering the educators and teachers in building the social relations within a peer group and creating an environment of acceptance and support of socially isolated, this being the prerequisite for the child’s emotional and social development and academic success.
Some of the titles: In search of happiness Super team You need to wear other’s shoes Circle’s stories Classroom stories Relationships diaries
“Children never loved me more!” an eightyear-old girl said after her Circle of Friends was held for the first time.
Inclusive education
October 2016. to June 2017.
Establishment of inclusive communities Targeting professional development and proficiency improvement in the area of inclusive education, Association ”DUGA” in partnership with UNICEF BiH and responsible Ministries of education implemented a 3day training for 110 representatives from Ministries, Pedagogical Institutes and primary schools. The promoted training modules are human rights based, emphasising the importance of teaching all children, understanding the differences, and building productive bonds with the community, while maintaining the stance that professional development is a life-long obligation. 14 primary school teachers from across BiH and educational authority representatives had an opportunity to exchange their experiences during 10 days of training from August 2016 until June 2017.
Stories from schools Personal stories as told by children, teachers and professionals from inclusive classrooms and schools testify of good teaching practices and partnership with parents. It testifies that school and life is the one and that they can be harmonised given some willingness and creativity. “There is no quality inclusive story without an inclusive teacher“ „The teacher and the child can achieve their maximum only in an inclusive environment“ „We are proud that our activities are erasing the borders“ „Parents are the key and we cannot achieve much without their support“
Training module content: Vision, theory and concepts of inclusive education Team work towards inclusive schools Individualised learning environment
Project supported by UNICEF BiH
Support for children with developmental difficulties Continuous
Children-parents-schools 82 pupils benefited from continuous special educators’ support. That is how children: Worked on the acquisition of working habits, Increased motivation for learning, Developed fine and gross motor skills, Gradually overcame speech and language difficulties, Gained self-confidence and freedom in verbal expression, Improved communication with peers, Were more successful in academic achievements.
Support to children involved:
Mastering of reading and writing skills and understanding of what is being read, Mastering of mathematical skills, Follow-up of emotional and communication difficulties children experience.
Implemented workshops:
Development of motor skills through felt – from wool, through shaping, to felt balls Water world (the aim: creativity and fine motor movements development by using leaves and other materials specific to autumn period) Greeting cards making (the aim: creativity and fine motor movement development by using the materials and symbols specific to the winter period)
„Invaluable was the advice we received on overcoming the barriers our daughter faced during her development and growing-up. “ Special Educators’ work in schools:
Help identify children with developmental difficulties, Participate in team follow-up and evaluation of children, Conduct child assessment to design IPP, Support the child, Advise and educate the parents and teachers.
Supported by Partage, France and Municipality Centre, Sarajevo Light for the World, Austria
Regional meeting event “Telling of successful inclusive stories” May 2017. Hotel Hills, Sarajevo
Participation Over 200 educators, parents, and representatives of educational authorities, international organisations and civil society from BiH, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia presented successful inclusive stories, and specific working models which enhance inclusive education in their communities. Inclusive education alludes responsiveness to different needs of every child, meaning that participation will be increased, and withdrawal decreased by modifying and adapting the content, approach, structure and strategies with a common aim of ensuring quality education for all children. 90% teachers believe that inclusion helps pupils to learn and accept the differences. Most children have positive attitudes, but only 45% have a friend with developmental difficulties. ⅔ of parents and children questioned believe that children with developmental difficulties are often isolated and subject of peer bullying in the school.
Significance The Regional meeting represented the finalisation of a two-year project to encompass more than 200 children with developmental difficulties. These children were supported by DUGA’s special educators. Over 1000 teachers, professionals and school principals from Canton Sarajevo participated in training program related to communication with children and parents, specific learning difficulties, etc. A research was conducted to assess the attitudes of children, parents and teachers related to inclusive education implementation in primary schools in Canton Sarajevo. Quantity analysis resulted with the attitudes of 2236 pupils, 2026 parents and 735 teachers. 82% of teachers had an opportunity to teach pupils with developmental difficulties in their teaching career. Factors preventing better quality inclusion were identified as:
Insufficient time teachers can spend with every pupil, Lack of professionals Unfavourable working conditions Local community uninformed about inclusion
Financially supported by Light for the World, Austria