Places to Grow

31/12/2025

Don't miss OdPerinky's campaign, "This Day Is Forever." They are promoting the crucial message about the significance of the first 1000 days in every child's life. Please share, like, and comment to help spread the word...and sign up for their newsletter! Watch and learn more below 🌱

31/12/2025

𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑛, 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑇𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑤.

Our slogan says it all. Over the past four years, Places to Grow has advocated for collaboration, emphasizing that long-term solutions require shared commitment, trust, and a focus on systemic change.

As we approach the end of the program, we want to reflect on what we have built together and what will continue to grow. This work has always centered around people: the practitioners, families, municipalities, and partners who have demonstrated that trust, cooperation, and shared purpose can reshape systems.

In recent years, we have seen real and lasting impacts, from the creation and expansion of national early childhood development (ECD) platforms in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary to successful policy changes at regional and national levels. We have made significant progress in advocacy, communications, and collaboration regarding ECD, creating a ripple effect of positive change. We have learned from one another, shared solutions, and strengthened cross-border cooperation.

We do not view these milestones as endpoints. Instead, we see them as a foundation for what comes next. To everyone who has contributed your time, expertise, and unwavering commitment: thank you. This work continues because of the dedication of the national platforms: Platforma pro včasnou péči, OdPerinky, and Koragyerekkori Platform. If you would like to stay engaged with this work and support a better future for all children, please follow them and support their efforts.

📸 Some of our favorite moments, captured thanks to Tereza Sejkova and Martin Faltejsek

19/12/2025

“𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐵𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑘á 𝐵𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎 𝑅𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝐵𝐵𝑆𝐾) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑝 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑎 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑎 𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐵𝐵𝑆𝐾 𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒, 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑡 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑙𝑦. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑝 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑠 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑝 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡, 𝑟𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡.”
- Mr. Ján Michalský, Director of the Department of Social Affairs and Social Policies

As part of Joint Action Fund 1, Holis, through the Places to Grow (P2G) initiative, undertook an Early Childhood Development (ECD) Ecosystem Mapping project. This project involved creating a mapping tool that consolidates essential information on ECD services across the region into a single, easily accessible online resource. By transforming fragmented data into a clear visual overview, the tool allows families, service providers, and decision-makers to quickly identify available services and their locations. Additionally, this tool enables future growth and regular updates, further supporting effective early care planning.

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞?

🌱 Check out the final map: https://opendata.bbsk.sk/items/aa5bba781912434fa57d61bde5e591cb

🌱 Are you based in the region and work in early care services, or know of services that should be included on the map? Reach out to the Department of Social Affairs and Social Policies at BBSK, Banskobystrický samosprávny kraj: https://www.bbsk.sk/index.php/organizacne-jednotky/27

🌱 If you want to read more about this work, check out our latest Medium article: https://medium.com/places-to-grow/making-early-childhood-development-services-visible-the-bansk%C3%A1-bystrica-region-ecd-map-63aed340afc4

🌱 If you are passionate about supporting critical topics such as early childhood development, mapping tools can help increase awareness and improve accessibility across diverse needs. 📩 Contact [email protected] to help advance this important initiative.

14/12/2025

🌱 Joint Action Fund (JAF) 2 Project with the Lamenda Foundation: Child Welfare Roundtable In Balassagyarmat 🌱 Part 2 of 2

In Part 1, we shared how the Lamenda Foundation is bringing local professionals together to strengthen collaboration in child welfare in Balassagyarmat. But connection is only the beginning. Now they’re working to turn those dialogues into action. Lamenda has been preparing a local early childhood strategy, ensuring that cooperation among institutions doesn’t end with this project, but continues as part of a shared long-term vision for children’s wellbeing.

They’re also developing a sustainability plan for the roundtable and meeting with local small businesses to explore how community partnerships can sustain the initiative beyond the grant period.
The parents are at the core of their work. The team has hosted educational sessions, professional meetings, and presentations on best practices, and what they’ve found is deeply encouraging: families are open, engaged, and eager to collaborate to help their children thrive.

Lamenda’s work demonstrates how much can be achieved when institutions, professionals, and families unite around a common goal, ensuring every child in Balassagyarmat has the best possible start.

💡 The Child Welfare Roundtable in Balassagyarmat is supported by Places to Grow’s Joint Action Fund 2. You can read more about this and other projects on our website.

📸 Lamenda Foundation (https://jatekvaroscsana.hu/HU/11/Rolunk)

12/12/2025

🌱 Joint Action Fund (JAF) 2 Project with the Lamenda Foundation: Child Welfare Roundtable In Balassagyarmat 🌱 Part 1 of 2

In the Hungarian town of Balassagyarmat, the Lamenda Foundation is uniting people around a shared objective: to ensure support for every child from pregnancy through school entry.

As part of JAF 2, they are establishing a dedicated local roundtable on child welfare and protection. While the town already has nurseries, pediatricians, and educational programs, cooperation among them has often been inconsistent, leaving some families without the full support they need.

They would like to achieve real cooperation between child welfare institutions, meaning that the journey of young children can be tracked from the mother's pregnancy to the time they start school. An important element of this cooperation is the provision of appropriate information, education, and parent development.

In practice, professionals often work independently and are unaware of one another's competencies and tasks. Interprofessional collaboration can be facilitated by understanding not only the care system's structure but also the competencies of the professionals working within it.

✨ Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll share how Lamenda is turning these conversations into lasting change through education, strategy, and community involvement.

📸 Lamenda Foundation - "The importance of early development in infancy and early childhood."

10/12/2025

🌱Joint Action Fund (JAF) 2 Project with Awen Amenca: Bridging The Gap: Building Trust Between Roma Families And Preschool Institutions 🌱 Part 2 of 2

In Part 1, we shared how Awen Amenca is rebuilding trust between Roma families and preschools through conversation and collaboration to drive change.
That’s why the project is working hand in hand with Ostrava University, PAQ Research, and the Czech Early Childhood Platform to ensure that every insight gathered from families and teachers becomes part of a broader effort to shape inclusive early childhood policies.

Together, they’re collecting evidence, sharing good practices, and helping policymakers understand what inclusion looks like in real life. By helping families feel seen and respected, Awen Amenca is bridging the gap between Roma communities and schools and building a foundation for trust, equality, and opportunity that starts in early childhood.

This project is supported by Places to Grow’s Joint Action Fund 2. Learn more about this and other JAF 2 projects on our website:

In 2024, Places to Grow launched the Joint Action Fund (JAF). This grant initiative is integral to our strategy of fostering collaborative innovation, peer learning, and adaptable early childhood development (ECD) practices among organisations and stakeholders. We amplify their impact and drive syst...

08/12/2025

🌱Joint Action Fund (JAF) 2 Project with Awen Amenca: Bridging The Gap: Building Trust Between Roma Families And Preschool Institutions 🌱 Part 1 of 2

Awen Amenca’s project is addressing one of the most persistent challenges in early childhood education in the Czech Republic: the barriers that keep Roma children from participating in preschool.

These barriers are rooted in mistrust, misunderstanding, and past experiences of exclusion. Through consultations, workshops, and community discussions, the team is creating spaces where parents, teachers, and local authorities can speak openly and begin rebuilding relationships step by step.

Their message is clear: real inclusion starts with people meeting, hearing each other, and recognizing shared hopes for their children’s futures.

✨ Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll share how Awen Amenca is working with researchers and universities to turn these conversations into evidence and action.

This project is supported by Places to Grow’s Joint Action Fund 2. Learn more about this and other JAF 2 projects on our website: https://placestogrow.eu/joint-action-fund

03/12/2025

How can we design family support services that truly reflect families' needs and desires, while also bringing together early-years practitioners and experts to create a shared vision?

We recently came across this insightful piece from the team at Nesta that focuses on co-designing integrated family services in the UK. They held workshops that included both families and practitioners to rethink how early-years support can better serve people's needs, focusing on honest discussions and practical planning. Nesta's innovative approach offers hope and inspires policymakers and practitioners to explore new ways to improve family support. The results are encouraging and provide a roadmap for services that are more accessible, better coordinated, and centered around the families they serve.

Interested in imagining a stronger future for family support? Read the full article here:

How can we create a future vision for family support services that reflects the preferences of families, and builds consensus among early-years practitioners and experts?

27/11/2025

𝐴𝑛 𝑢𝑝𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝟤𝐺 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦...

On World Children’s Day, Eurochild released its flagship report, 𝐔𝐧𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬: 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞. Drawing on contributions from 84 Eurochild members across 36 European countries, this is one of the most comprehensive civil-society-led assessments of the state of children’s rights in Europe.

Rooted in evidence from organizations and professionals working directly with children, the report provides a detailed, children’s rights-focused analysis that helps turn rights on paper into rights in practice. It also plays a vital role in closing gaps in evidence and accountability, strengthening collective efforts to protect and promote children’s rights across the region.

Through structured country profiles, the report explores a wide range of rights protected by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, including (but not limited to!) child protection systems, mental health, child poverty, affordable housing, and public investment in social protection.

🌱 Read the full report here: https://eurochild.org/resource/unequal-childhoods-rights-on-paper-should-be-rights-in-practice/ 🌱

Putting children at the heart of Europe

25/11/2025

🌱Joint Action Fund (JAF) 2 Project with SOCIA - Nadácia na podporu sociálnych zmien: Creating Conditions For Long-Term Provision Of ECD In Slovakia 🌱 Part 2 of 2

From one coordinator to a national vision, SOCIA’s journey continues. In their current project, they’re co-creating practical video materials with pediatricians and the organization Healthy Regions, in collaboration with families, ensuring that vital information on child health, development, and care reaches parents in a way that feels clear and relatable. SOCIA has been producing short videos in Slovak and Romani to provide guidance on topics such as fever and temperature, designed for families who may not otherwise have access to trusted resources.

At the same time, SOCIA is advocating for something bigger: the formal recognition and public funding of family support professionals. When these roles are valued and sustained, every child has the chance to thrive.

📸 Here are some sneak peeks from the shorts - videos coming soon!

✨This project is supported by Places to Grow’s Joint Action Fund 2. Learn more about this and other projects on our website.

20/11/2025

🌱Joint Action Fund (JAF) 2 Project with SOCIA - Nadácia na podporu sociálnych zmien: Creating Conditions For Long-Term Provision Of ECD In Slovakia 🌱 Part 1 of 2

How do you build trust in a system when families have learned not to expect help?

For SOCIA, the answer began with a simple act: listening. Through their first JAF project, they hired Ľubica, a local ECD coordinator who became a trusted link between families in need and the services meant to support them. Her work showed that consistent, personal engagement could change how communities perceive care and how care is delivered.

Now, SOCIA is taking the next step: turning that experience into a foundation for long-term change. They’re continuing Ľubica’s work, expanding her approach, and asking a critical question: How can Slovakia’s early childhood system make support not only available, but truly accessible?

✨ Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll share how SOCIA is translating this work into long-lasting impact.

10/11/2025

🌱 Joint Action Fund (JAF) 2 Project with OdPerinky: Building Foundations: Strengthening Early Childhood Development Through Community Building and Advocacy 🌱 Part 2 of 2

In Part 1, we shared how OdPerinky is building a national movement to raise awareness of the importance of the first 1,000 days of life. But their work is also about changing the system that supports children and families.

Alongside the public campaign, the platform has launched an intersectoral working group dedicated to developing Slovakia’s national strategy and action plan for coordinated early intervention and early childhood care services.

This group brings together voices from across the health, education, and social sectors to identify what’s missing and what it will take to make early childhood services more accessible, better connected, and sustainably funded.

The hope? That new, coordinated services will soon be adopted at the national level, creating lasting support for families during the most critical years of a child’s life.

✨This project is supported by Places to Grow’s Joint Action Fund 2. Learn more about this and other projects on our website: https://placestogrow.eu ✨