Smiles, love, equal opportunity15 May 2008
New crèche and flexible services with the help of EU funding – the EU-funded construction of the only crèche operating in the region, as well as the renewal of existing buildings and ensuring handicap access to these was completed in Szentendre this year.
New services equally satisfying the needs of parents were introduced within the framework of the project, which investment also created many new jobs.
Szentendre, 14 May 2008 – the renewed buildings and new building complex housing the crèche services was officially opened in Szendendre. Regional, county and local decision-makers, representatives of professional organisation, as well as professional working on the project and parents attended the ceremony.
The capacity of crèche in Szentendre was increased to accommodate and provide basic services for an additional 20 kindergarten children within the framework of the investment; moreover, 2 new crèche services were introduced, namely: kindergarten children can now use the playhouse and parents have the opportunity to take advantage of the childminding services offered. 10 new qualified professional will concurrently strengthen the team of the institution.
The child day care and placement problems of 100 – instead of 80 – families, including, among others, many Roma parents, living in the Szentendre micro-region have been resolved as a result of the project. All this is an incredible help for labour market participation, adjusting family and work obligations, as well as the healthy physical, mental and psychological development of the children. The renewed institution particularly emphasises facilitating the social acceptance of Roma parents and children.
„Our most important principle was to eliminate the disadvantages the families with kindergarten-age children living in Szentendre and the region faced to due to the insufficient services provided in the region. The technical solution was adjusted to the potentials of the building; the technical management of the crèche developed the basic concept of the two new services, namely, the playhouse and childminding services. We are especially thrilled about how we managed to create 10 new jobs, in spite of how the rate of unemployment is relatively low in our town” – said Dr Ferenc Dietz, Mayor of Szentendre.