After a successful pilot in 2019, for a second year in a row, the ISSA Secretariat supported the dissemination of Early Childhood Matters articles through its Members[1] in 12 countries across Europe and Central Asia. A total of 14 articles from the 2020 edition of Bernard van Leer Foundation’s journal were selected for translation in 13 languages.

With this initiative, ISSA and its Members offer an an opportunity for a diverse audience to learn about approaches from other countries around the world, and to feel connected to a wider community.

Apart from the actual translation into the language of their country (available also at earlychildhoodmatters.online with options to search per language), Members also worked to make sure that the key messages reach and inform relevant audiences, using creative approaches, in order to support leaders and inspire action.

Examples of innovative ways for dissemination include celebrities reading articles in recorded clips (see an example, in Hungarian), promotional animated videos (in Bulgarian), interactive webinars featuring authors and key messages from the articles being discussed in a Talk Show on public TV.

Through meetings and online events, newsletters, publishing in professional magazines or blogs, direct emails and posting on Members’ websites and social media, the translated articles have reached so far over 136,000 people across their area of influence. The targeted audience includes professionals from early childhood services (educators, inspectorates, teacher training institutions), local and national policy makers and the general public.

In addition, the ISSA Secretariat facilitated the creation of videos recordings with authors from the three articles that have been most popular among Members, and offered these to support dissemination activities.

This initiative continues to be a good example how both ISSA and its Members can leverage their network channels and mechanisms for the purpose of knowledge translation, learning and advocacy.

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[1] In alphabetical order, per country:

Step by Step Benevolent Foundation, Armenia;

Center for Innovations in Education, Azerbaijan;

For Our Children Foundation, Bulgaria;

Open Academy Step by Step, Croatia;

Partners Hungary Foundation, Hungary;

Community Foundation Step by Step, Kazakhstan;

Foundation for Education Initiatives Support - FEIS, Kyrgyzstan;

Pedagogical Center of Montenegro, Montenegro;

Association Multikultura, North Macedonia;

Step by Step Center for Education and Professional Development, Romania;

The Scientific and Educational Center “Biological and Social Foundations of Inclusion” of the Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russia.