00:01Υπότιτλοι AUTHORWAVE
00:30Finding accessible, affordable and good quality childcare is a big barrier to mothers with young children who want to return
00:37to 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 Ruzdanova.
00:54This single mother searched for three months before she found the right person to care for her two-year-old
01:00son Dimitar while her daughter goes to school and she goes to work.
01:04It was extremely difficult for me to find a watcher, first because of the person who believes the sins, and
01:13second because of the question of the public law, 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, because I believe that we
01:36give a good example of our children.
01:38While Kristina is at the office, her son receives one-to-one professional care from Galina Ilieva, who is happy
01:45to have this work opportunity.
01:59The project that offered Kristina a childcare solution is called Parents and Employment, and it addresses a very specific need
02:06here in Bulgaria, where only 22% of children under three are in early childhood education and care, compared to
02:13an EU average of 40%.
02:16The project meets the shortfall in nursery places by offering parents up to eight hours a day of free childcare.
02:23It's financed from a €33.5 million five-year budget, which 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 childcare option, but also offers job seekers a chance to be hired.
02:43There's a steady flow of candidates to both unemployed people and parents looking for childcare.
02:50The Employment Office vets every case carefully, and then the matching process begins.
03:22The process is proving successful over the years.
03:25Over 3,400 eligible families have signed childcare contracts since the current project began in 2023, and 3,500 childcareers
03:34have been employed.
03:37Offering accessible, affordable and high-quality childcare is also a means to reduce inequality.
03:44Brussels-based childcare 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, childcare services, especially to poor children, is essential for them to reduce this gap.
04:05But also for parents, through allowing them, accessing the labour market, especially women, to reduce gap in income.
04:14Back in Sofia and Galina is playing with Dimitar, who spends most of his summer days outside in the park.
04:32Then, at the end of the day, mum Kristina receives a warm welcome home from work.
04:37This is a wonderful moment, for which I am waiting for every day.
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%.
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