PRECEDE MANIFESTO for young children

Partnership for Reconciliation through Early Childhood Education and Development in Europe
(PRECEDE) is a regional network of civil society organizations from seven European countries: Early
Years - the organisation for young children from Northern Ireland, UK;1 Partner pr Fmijt from
Albania;2 Balkan Sunflowers from Kosovo;3 The Center for Civil Initiatives(CCI) from Croatia;4
First Childrens Embassy in the World - Megjashi from Macedonia;5 Djeca prije svega from
Montenegro,6 and Pomo deci from Serbia.7
The main objective of the PRECEDE network is to strengthen the capacity of civil society
organizations in the Balkan Region and Europe, and to support the process of acceptance, peacebuilding, reconciliation, respect for diversity and unity through education in the early years.
We, as PRECEDE partners want to ensure that young children are the focus of decision and public
policy-making in relation to early years development, preschool and primary education, health services,
child protection and peacebuilding at national governmental level in each of the seven countries and at
the Balkan Region level.
Various contemporary researches show that inclusion of children in pre-school education from very
early age has a positive impact on childrens social skills and academic achievements throughout their
life, which further reflects positively on the community and the entire society in general.
In addition, different emerging research findings show that early childhood education and development
has a huge influence on future peacebuilding, diversity and social cohesion. Sensitizing children about
equality, tolerance, mutual acceptance and respect beyond their differences, nurturing a culture of peace
and non-violence in stimulating early years environments is a great attempt to foster social justice,
conflict prevention and build sustainable peace.
Consequently, this is a vital opportunity to acknowledge the importance of an advanced and peaceoriented early childhood sector to young children, their families and their communities, and to recognize
the worthiness of contributing to a better future for all children, their well-being and best interest, as this
is considered a prime investment of a truly responsible and socially just society.

www.early-years.org
www.partnereperfemijet.org
3 www.balkansunflowers.org
4 www.cci.hr
5 childrensembassy.org.mk
6 www.djecaps.me/index.php/mne
7 www.pomocdeci.org/sr
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2

The Precede Manifesto for young children recognizes supports and promotes the importance of
early childhood education, development, positive and child centred upbringing and good caregiving,
within a care and learning culture of respect, inclusion and acceptance of diversity from birth in families,
in early education and in communities.
The PRECEDE Network appreciates that the governments of the Balkan countries have many issues
that require their attention, but none more pressing than those that affect young children, their families,
their future and that of their respective countries. Accepting and respecting diversity and every childs
right to live in a community that is inclusive, cohesive and peaceful will enable the communities and
countries in the Balkan Region to live harmoniously.
Through this manifesto, the Precede Network requests the urgent improvement across the Balkan
Region of the provision of high quality early years education for every young child. The
provision or not of quality inclusive services has a profound impact on every child and on his/her future
and ultimately on the development of a fair and equal society.
Without exception, all relevant institutions accept the necessity for greater inclusion and respect for
diversity as crucial elements of young childrens lives and learning in order to foster a world with less
discrimination, a reduction in the level of prejudices and stereotypes and the promotion of social
harmony and care for others. The following issues are those that the Precede Network believes are
essential to improve the quality and level of early childhood education, care and development within the
Balkan countries and also to enhance respect for diversity and social inclusion as a preamble to social
cohesion.
In general, accepting the proposals of the Precede Manifesto regionally, as well as nationally, has the
potential to bring about the much needed and long awaited leadership, commitment, co-ordination and
cohesion to the delivery of holistic child-centred early years development and education services.
By signing the Precede Manifesto, we urge the relevant institutions, political parties, MPs, national
and regional policy and decision making bodies, local communities, including parents, pre-school
teachers, caregivers, educators, together with the media, civil society organizations, formal and informal
groups to MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN by committing to:

Ensure access and inclusion of all children in high quality early years services including,
health, preschool education and family support services. Take action and create conditions

in the country and accordingly adjust the legislations in order to provide inclusive services for all
young children with well trained and competent professional workers who place the child first in
all their activities, ensuring that the services are accessible to the most vulnerable and excluded
children and their families.

Recommend that early childhood education is available for every child from the age of
three years old.

Invest in the early years, childcare and family support workforce in terms of relevant

qualifications, high quality effective theoretical and practical training, employment opportunities,
supportive management structures and continuous professional training to ensure an
improvement in the status and motivation of the workforce.

Enable and create ways for increased parental involvement in the preschool centres, both

as active participants in the learning processes, but also as promoters of respect for diversity and
inclusion amongst families and educators.

Preschool education to include as standard modules and activities that ensure that the
learning environment promotes, inclusion, respect for diversity, conflict prevention,
tolerance, peace building and reconciliation as an integral component of national preschool
curricula.

The national governments must develop and ensure implementation of policies that support

those parents who choose to stay at home to care for their young children by providing
access and information to appropriate home-based and group support services. For
mothers or fathers to be afforded the option to stay at home through financial schemes that do
not adversely affect their economic/financial situation to provide adequately for their children.