Since March 2024, project partners Dagda city and parishes, Visaginas nursery-kindergarten “Auksinis Gaidelis” (Child Pedagogy Center), Panevėžys nursery-kindergarten “Rūta” and Kraslava Education administration, launched the cross-border project “Capacity building and development of necessary competences for working with children with special needs in Latvian and Lithuanian kindergartens”/“Colorful Emotions” LL-00009 (hereinafter referred to as the Project).
The Project activities are being carried out in preschool educational institutions: Krāslava Preschool Education Institution “Pienenīte” and Dagda Town Preschool Education Institution “Saulīte”, Visaginas Preschool Education Institution “Auksinis Gaidelis” and Panevėžys Preschool Education Institution “Rūta.”
During the first phase of implementation, psychological support services were provided in each partner kindergarten, under the project, psychologists are employed in each preschool to support teachers, children, and parents as needed.
Within the project, teachers from Dagda’s “Saulīte” learned new methods such as “Butterfly” and innovative Warm grain therapy, while teachers from Krāslava’s “Pienenīte” obtained certificates in “Jimba Safety Steps Training Program” and “Fairy Tale Therapy for Children and Adolescents.” Lithuanian teachers participated in Art therapy and Interactive sand therapy training. Equipment purchases also support activity implementation; for example, a “Warm Grain Box” was acquired to allow teachers at “Saulīte” to test and implement learned methodologies and provide support during children’s adaptation and emotional difficulties.
Several psychological training sessions for Latvian and Lithuanian educators have been organized, where LV-LV and LT-LT partners organized psychological training for employees of their educational institutions. All partners also participated in some of the psychological training sessions. In total, the following psychological trainings were conducted within the project:
- “Burnout prevention, creation of a healthy psychological microclimate”, 15.05.2024., Panevežys, Lithuania;
- Development of psychological resilience skills. Emotions and emotion regulation practices, Development of mindfulness skills, 12.06.2024., Panevežys, Lithuania;
- ZOOM psychological training with PP3 and PP2, 27.06.2024;
- “Stress management when working with special education children”, 11.07.2024., Visaginas, Lithuania;
- “Emotional life in the roles of child – parent adult”,14.08.2024. ,Kraslava, Latvia;
- “Dynamics of emotions for preschool children” and “Emotional balance in everyday life”, 16.08.2024., Andrupene, Latvia;
- “Function and importance of emotions in human life”, 20.08.2024., Priežmale, Latvia;
- “Responsibility for emotions”, 21.08.2024., Kraslava, Latvia.
Within the framework of the project, the implementation of several activities is still ongoing, such as the transfer of knowledge to both institution colleagues and project partners, providing information both theoretically and practically, as well as individual or collective online consultations on the methods learned. Additionally, it is planned to inform the institution’s community and the general public about the methods acquired and the project’s activities, involving preschool teachers from Latvia and Lithuania, with the project continuing until August 31, 2025.
The project fosters strong collaboration between Latvian and Lithuanian partners to develop the necessary competencies for working with children in preschool educational institutions in both countries. Specialized training, adaptive materials, community involvement, and collaboration among project partners will promote more inclusive learning environments, transforming traditional kindergartens into inclusive spaces. As a result, kindergartens in Dagda—’Saulīte,’ Visaginas—’Auksinis Gaidelis,’ Panevėžys—’Rūta,’ and Krāslava—’Pienenīte’ will significantly enhance the educational experiences of children with special needs, while challenging existing perceptions and reducing prejudice.”
This project is co-financed by the European Union. The total project budget is 300.900 EUR, co-funding of European Regional Development Fund is 240.720 EUR.
This publication has been prepared with the financial support of the European Union. The content reflects the views of the project lead partner Dagda city and parishes and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union.
Project coordinator Ieva Baldiņa,
Project manager Tatjana Munda
17.06.2025.
