00:01Em Bvlgaria, um projeto inovativo ajuda a paises de volta para trabalhar,增ando
00:07boa qualidade de saúde e oferecendo as pessoas unemploiadas um trabalho estabelecido.
00:30Finding accessible, affordable and good quality child care is a big barrier to mothers with young children who want to
00:37return to work.
00:38The search for solutions is underway and we're here in Sofia to see one example in action.
00:49It's time to drop off the children and head to the office for Kristina Ruzdhanova.
00:54This single mother searched for three months before she found the right person to care for her two-year-old
01:00son Dmitar,
01:01while her daughter goes to school and she goes to work.
01:04It was extremely difficult for me to find a child-observant.
01:08First, because of the person who trusts the interests and the second,
01:14to be a legal question about how to make a agreement with this person.
01:20Despite those challenges, Kristina was determined to take up a new job as an accountant at the Italian embassy in
01:27Sofia.
01:28For me, to work and to feel an active mother is an extremely important thing,
01:34because I believe that we give a good example of our children.
01:38While Kristina is at the office, her son receives one-to-one professional care from Galina Ilieva,
01:44who is happy to have this work opportunity.
01:59The project that offered Kristina a child-care solution is called Parents and Employment,
02:04and it addresses a very specific need here in Bulgaria,
02:08where only 22% of children under three are in early childhood education and care,
02:13compared to an EU average of 40%.
02:15The project meets the shortfall in nursery places by offering parents up to eight hours a day of free child
02:22care.
02:23It's financed from a €33.5 million five-year budget,
02:28which includes €28 million from the European Social Fund Plus.
02:33One of the most innovative aspects of the project is it not only offers mothers who want to work a
02:38free child care option,
02:40but also offers job seekers a chance to be hired.
02:43There's a steady flow of candidates too, both unemployed people and parents looking for child care.
02:50The Employment Office vets every case carefully, and then the matching process begins.
03:22The process is proving successful.
03:24Over 3,400 eligible families have signed child care contracts since the current project began in 2023,
03:32and 3,500 child carers have been employed.
03:37Offering accessible, affordable and high-quality child care is also a means to reduce inequality.
03:43Brussels-based child care expert Christian Morabito says even the youngest children benefit.
03:50Evidence shows that gaps in skills appear early, before the child enters into primary education.
03:59So providing these services, child care services, especially to poor children,
04:03is essential for them to reduce this gap,
04:05but also for parents, through allowing them, accessing the labour market, especially women,
04:11to reduce gap in income.
04:14Back in Sofia, and Galina is playing with Dimitar,
04:17who spends most of his summer days outside in the park.
04:32Then, at the end of the day, mom, Christina, receives a warm welcome home from work.
04:43Expanding childhood education and care is considered an economic, social and gender equality priority in Europe.
04:49It's calculated that raising the employment rate of women could boost EU GDP by up to 1.7%.
04:57It's calculated that raising the employment rate of women could boost EU GDP by up to 1.7%.
04:58It's calculated that raising the employment rate of women could boost EU GDP by up to 1.7%.
04:58It's calculated that raising the employment rate of women could boost EU GDP by up to 1.7%.
04:59It's calculated that raising the employment rate of women could boost EU GDP by up to 1.7%.
