Implemented projects of Association "Children First" Title of the project Year of implementing the project "Psychosocial Programs for the Families of Refugees and Exiles " 1993.-1995. "Psychosocial Help for Children, Teachers and Parents of Bosnian Schools in Zagreb" 1996.-1997. "Psychosocial Support with Elements of Education for Preschool Children and their Mothers- Integration of Minorities 1997.- 2001. "Psychosocial Support for Teachers in Gospić" 1997. "Program of Additional Education for Roma Helpers" 2001. - 2003. "Humanitarian Action "A Glass of Milk for Every Child" 2002.-2003. "Prevention of all Kinds of Addictions" 2005.-2007. "Help in Learning" 2005.-2006. "Democracy is Learned in Early Childhood" 2004.-2005. "School Without Violence" 2004.-2005. "Safe Child" 2007. "The Right of Child to Grow in Safe Environment" 2005.-going on "How to Study Efficiently" 2004.-2005. "Education for Peace, Peacefull Conflict Resolution, Solidarity and Tolerance" 2002.-2004. "Promotion of Childrens Rights in the Local Comunity" 2004. "To School Through Playing" 2001.-going on "Early Development for Civil Society" 2001.-going on "Project for Socially Deprived Children and Mothers" 2004.-2005. "Prevention of Socially Unacceptable Behaviour of School- age Children" 1997.-going on "Additional Education of School and Preschool Teachers " 2001.-going on "Parenting is Partnership" 2008.-going on Since 1997.-2000. "Children First" implemented program "Psychosocial Support with Elements of Education for Preschool Children and their Mothers- Integration of Minorities". Based on constant need assesment following programmes were developed and are currently implemented: To School through Playing Early Development for Civil Society Project for Socially Deprived Children and Mothers. The main aim is to provide support to socially deprived groups in order to lower the risks of social isolation. The purpose is to enhance the quality of socialisation processes and to stimulate individual development. All the programmes/projects are based on the Strategy of Work with Pre-school Children, which was verified as a short pre-school programme by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport. The programme To School through Playing was assessed as the Good Practice Model by the Governmental Committee for Prevention of Conduct Disorders. The programmes' methods of work with children are based on playing as the most natural medium in stimulating socialisation, learning and communication processes. Group work, in which mothers participate, is focused on personal and parental development and development of social skills. During the process of group work, mothers build up their own self-help groups that help to induce commitment to the group's members and to the local community. The leader of the project is Mrs. Matilda Markočić, mr.sc. in psychology. Since 1997, the programme has been implemented in 26 primary schools in Zagreb. A similar programme, Education for Peace, Peaceful Conflict Resolution, Solidarity and Tolerance was implemented in 3 primary schools in Karlovac and Turanj (2002-2004). The purpose of programmes is to lower risk factors that influence development of socially unacceptable behaviour in children. Positive values and pro-social models of behaviour are encouraged. To sustain newly acquired knowledge and behaviour skills, the programme includes parents in addition to their children. The leader of the project is Mrs. Živana Miharija, mr.sc. in psychology. These projects provide non-formal additional education to parents as well as professionals working in the educational and social welfare system. Projects for proffesionals working in educational system are being conducted since 2001. Activities in non - formal education were aimed at increasing teachers' sensitivity for specific risk factors within children's surrounding; training to create educational process based on the development of children's self - respect and social competence (both of children and parents); and providing emotional support to parents. Workshops implemented during school year 2007./2008.: The Right to Identity, Development of Self- Image Stress and How to Avoid Burn-out Developmental Changes in Children and Educational Contents Expressive and Creative techniques in Working with Children Peacefull Conflict Resolution Quality Communication as Precondition of Succesfull Cooperation Hiperactive Children Techiques of Reducing Agressive Behaviour Anxiety and School Fobia in Children Motivation for Learning and Chalenges of Teaching Emotional Inteligence- Development of Competence Selfevaluation- Critical Thinking Working with Gifted Children - Practical Application of Principle of Excellence Developmental Difficulties - Individualized Approach and Addapted School Programme Technics of Learning and Teaching How to Handle Defiant Children Croatian National Educational Standard and Creativity in Teaching Parental Upbringing and Childrens Self- esteem How to talk with a Children How to Help Children in Learning The project of non-formal additional education of pre-school teachers was extended to parents since parents represent an important resource in the educational process. The project acivities were aimed at increasing parental competence and skills. The project of additional education of professionals working in the social welfare system was implemented through the activities of the Centre for Children and Family. The activities were aimed at prevention of professional stress and burn-out. The training also included development of anger management techniques. Leaders of the project are Mrs. Živana Miharija, mr.sc. and Mrs. Matilda Markočić, mr.sc., both psychologists The aims of the Centre are: 1. To provide direct psycho-social support to children and parents in order to prevent, or at least reduce, the effect of risk factors in the family or surroundings that influence the quality of parent-child relationships. 2. To contribute to the development of family-supportive networks in the Dubrava local community, in cooperation and partnership with educational, social and health institutions and organisations The implemented activities in the Centre include: Individual and group counselling of children Group work with children based on activities such as playing, education and therapy (playgroups for pre-school children; preventive and socialisation projects; protective and intervention projects aimed at children with difficulties in psycho-social adaptation) Individual and group educational and counselling work with parents (psychological counselling; projects that promote responsible parenting; self-help groups for parents with similar everyday difficulties) Designing and implementing projects in partnership with governmental and local institutions (Social Welfare Centre, kindergartens, schools etc.) Educational and psycho-social support to professionals that work with children and parents Developing "case study" models through supervision meetings that include staff from both schools and the Social Welfare entre. The leader of the Centre is Mrs. Lidija Rezić, psychologist.   Since 1994., every year Children First implements many smaller projects as a part of our programme of humanitarian aid for approximately 450 destitute families. Humanitarian Assistance includes: Help with purchasing food Help with winter survival (including wood for heating and part settlement of heating expenses) Buying warm underwear Help with medical care During the year, collection of food, second-hand clothing and shoes is organised for subsequent distribution to destitute families. In 2004, our organization initiated informal network of NGOs that work with children - Coordination of NGOs for Children in Croatia (32 member organisations). From September 2004 - March 2007, Children First acted as the coordinating organisation of the informal network. During that period a web page was created and launched www.koordinacija-zadjecu.com, and a catalogue of programmes/projects offered by NGO members was printed. In April 2007, the informal network took steps towards formalisation. Ms. Blanka Šegović, president of Children First, was elected to be the president of the newly founded formal network of NGOs working with children in Croatia. The purpose of the Coordination is to strengthen public acknowledgement of children's issues and to involve all relevant organisations and mechanisms in the process of addressing these issues. Activities carried out by "Children First" as the coordinating organization of the Coordination of NGOs for Children in Croatia: Monitoring the implementation of the National Plan for Children from 2006. to 2012., mainly focused in three working groups: working group Education Working group Importance of Family in raising Children Working group Conduct Disorders in Children and Youth Cooperation with the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport; the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Family, Veterans Affairs and Intergenerational Solidarity and the Governmental Office for Children Rights "Children First" was actively involved in activities of the Governmental Council for Children A joint public event was organised to celebrate the International Day of the Convention of Childrens Rights (20 member organizations participated) A large number of conferences, seminars, roundtable discussions were attended Regular meetings of the Board were carried out. Children First is well known as the organisation with solid cooperation with local government as well as government institutions, ministries, government councils and committees, At the national level, we collaborated with : Ministry of Science, Education and Sport; Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; Ministry of Family, Veterans Affairs and Intergenerational Solidarity; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, the Governmental Office for Human Rights, the Governmental Office for NGOs, and the State Institute for Education Development. The president of the association, Mrs. Blanka Šegović- El Khalifa, is a member of Governmental Council for Children (fourth appointment), and untill summer 2007 was a member of the Governmental Council for Development of Civil Society (two appointments). Three members of the organisation: Matilda Markočić M.A., Živana Miharija M.A. and Dubravka Maleš Ph.D., are/were members of the following committees at ministerial and governmental levels: the National Committee for Human Rights, the Government Coordination for Protection of Children's Rights, the Governmental Committee for Development of Standards in Prevention of Conduct Disorders of Children and Youth. During 2007, members of the association participated in a number of roundtable discussions, conferences and working groups on topics such as: development of civil society, protection of human and childrens rights, democratisation process, fighting racism and strengthening tolerance. In 2007, "Children First" continued to develop close cooperation with several institutions in the City of Zagreb and the City of Velika Gorica. Succesfully developed cooperation with institutions and local government: Partnership with the City of Velika Gorica in implementation od "Early Development for Civil Society Programme" Partnership with Centre for Social Welfare in implementing the programmes of Centre for Children and Family Partnership with 5 elementary school in city borough Dubrava, in implementation of ""Prevention of Socially Unacceptable Behaviour of School- age Children" Letter of intention to implement partnership projects with City Office for Health, Labour, Social Protection and War Veterans, City of Zagreb. In 2003, Children First organized the humanitarian campaign in 22 elementary schools on areas of special state concern, callled "A Glass of Milk for Every Child". The campaign raised money for a glass of milk on a daily basis for all school children in areas of special state concern. Eleven firms supported the action financially: Lura, Tetrapak, Pliva, Futura DDB, Croatia osiguranje, Panadol d.o.o., Metroholding d.d., Našicecement, Zračna luka Zagreb, HT Hrvatske telekomunikacije, Eriksson Nikola Tesla. In 2006, our organisation, together with three other NGOs, started work on strategic development of corporate social responsibility for the firm Ivančica d.d. (Shoe Company). The strategy is based on promotion of Children's Rights in cooperation with the firm Ivančica d.d.