Buna, a 4-year-old girl, and her older brother Drini, age 6, were among the first children to attend the newly opened Early Childhood Care and Development Centre (ECCD) in their village of Demjan 2, Kosovo. Their father, Nazmi, serves as the school principal of “Pjetër Bogdani,” where the ECCD Centre is located, and their mother, Mimoza, vividly recalls the transformation the Centre has brought to her children’s lives.

Drini was part of the ECCD Centre’s first cohort when it opened in January 2023, and Buna joined the following year. Mimoza shares that Buna, unlike her brother, was initially a shy and reserved child who preferred to spend time alone in her room, often absorbed in her love for art and painting. However, after joining the ECCD, things changed noticeably.

"Buna has become much more sociable," Mimoza explains. "She now spends time with her classmates and even plays with the neighborhood children, something she rarely did before."

Drini, now 6 years old, also benefited greatly from his time at the ECCD Centre. Mimoza notes how attending the ECCD Centre prepared him well for school, and she sees similar progress in Buna.

"The ECCD has enriched her vocabulary and communication skills. Buna used to struggle with some consonants, but now she speaks much more clearly."

The ECCD Centre has become a vital space not just for Buna and Drini, but for many children in the community. There are currently 20 children aged 3-4.5 registered in the centre, a number expected to increase to over 30 by the end of September. Mimoza sees the ECCD as a game-changer for her children and the wider community.

"The Centre has had a positive impact, especially in helping children like Buna socialize and develop educational skills," she shares.

Beyond academic progress, the Centre has provided an alternative to technology, with many parents, including Mimoza, grateful that their children spend a few hours each day away from screens.

Buna's passion for art has flourished at the ECCD centre. With the support of the Educator and the Community Mobilizer, Buna has sharpened her motor skills through creative activities like drawing and painting.

"She’s learning to hold a pencil properly, improve her hand-eye coordination, and even count and recognize colours," Mimoza says proudly.

Nazmi, in his role as the school principal, has seen the broader impact of the ECCD Centre on the community.

"The difference is noticeable when children transition into the first grade," he observes. "Those who attended the ECCD are better prepared for school, and their teachers have seen this improvement too."

Community Mobilizer Herolinda, who grew up in the same village, has been instrumental in the Centre’s success. She and Nazmi visited families door-to-door to inform them about the Centre’s services and encourage them to register their children. Today, parents themselves are spreading the word about the Centre’s benefits.

"We’ve seen parents sharing their children’s progress with other families, and this has led to more interest from surrounding villages," Herolinda explains.

The ECCD Centre has also helped in the early identification of developmental delays. Although there are currently no children with disabilities at the Centre, both the Educator Leuarta, and Herolinda have worked with parents to recommend visits to developmental professionals when necessary.

In addition to the children’s development, parents have benefited from the ECCD Centre’s informational sessions. Organized by Save the Children, these sessions cover topics such as child protection, well-being, gender equality, and disability inclusion, providing parents with valuable insights into supporting their children’s growth.

Mimoza believes that the ECCD Centre is crucial for the future of Demjan’s children. However, with the Community Mobilizer’s contract ending this year, parents are concerned about how the Centre will cope with an increasing number of children.

"Both the Educator and the Community Mobilizer have had such a positive impact on our children," she emphasizes. "It’s important to keep them both working together."

The ECCD Centre in Demjan 2, a project born of community need and sustained through the collaboration of parents, community mobilizer, educator, and Save the Children, has already created lasting change. For Buna and Drini, it has provided a foundation for their early education and personal growth; for the community, it has become a symbol of hope for the future.