Centre for Inclusive Education

The Centre for Inclusive Education (CIE) is a Bulgarian non-governmental organisation, which main aim is to promote inclusive education and make it happen for every child. CIE continues the 10-year work of Save the Children UK in Bulgaria on inclusive education for children with special educational needs in the mainstream school system and child protection.

Mission:
Each child must have the opportunity to be accepted and valued. The Centre for Inclusive Education (CIE) works in partnership to achieve social inclusion through quality education for all children.

Goals:
• Inclusive education for children and youth in state and private educational institutions.
• Social inclusion of disadvantaged children, youth and families.
• Raising public awareness towards inclusive education.

Main activities:

• "One School for All" - National Public Awareness Campaign on Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities and Special Educational Needs. Inclusive education means that all students in school, no matter of their strengths and weaknesses, are part of the school community. It stimulates development of children with special educational needs, as well as the development of the other children in class as individuals. In the frame of the campaign TV and radio spots, website www.1school4all.org and informational brochure were developed.
  

• "A Socially Inclusive Europe" Project. The project aimed at promoting inclusive education practices for children with disabilities and from ethnic minorities, as well as to increase the access of these marginalised groups to mainstream schools. Under the project the British methodology for school management, "Index for Inclusion", was introduced in 36 schools and one kindergarten.
  

• "Child to Child Clubs" Project. The aim of the project was to promote the participation of disadvantaged children in the fulfillment of their rights and responsibilities within their community (institution, school, family). The project involved popularizing the Child Rights Convention among the children.
  

• "Voices of Children" Project. Peer research project "Voices of Children" included the training of 22 children to interview peers - mostly from disadvantaged backgrounds - to voice their feelings, concerns, opinions and aspirations and to get a better understanding of child rights. The objective was to bring the point of view of the invisible children to the attention of school and community stakeholders, whose opinion might turn into a powerful advocacy and lobbying tool for change of the environment.
  

• Trainings on the topic of inclusive education practices and child protection.

You can find more information on the website of Centre for Inclusive Education www.cie-bg.eu