Fundatia Umanitara ASSIST at the Early Education Conference

The “Early Education Conference" is an event coordinated by the Acorns Foundation through FIRST7 - the Center for Parent and Educator Training. The latest conference was organized by EDUMAX in Suceava, bringing together over 370 specialists interested in aligning Romania's education system with international standards. This event’s primary goal was to provide educators and other professionals in the field of education with practical solutions tailored to the needs of children of the third millennium.

The ASSIST Humanitarian Foundation joined this project, which took place on November 4th a Philadelphia Theoretical High School. The event was largely conducted in English, and we supported this initiative by funding the simultaneous translation services, which amounted to 7000 RON. In doing so, we helped facilitate access to information and the exchange of experience among early education specialists. 

During the conference, several workshops were held by early education experts, both from Romania and the United Kingdom. 

Valentina Secară, the founder of the Early Education Conference and owner of the first private nursery in Romania, has developed an extensive background in pedagogy and educational management. Her training in Romania and the UK focused on various pedagogical and management aspects. Through First7 – Parents & Educators Coaching, she has organized numerous training sessions for preschool and primary school teachers and webinars for parents, covering crucial topics such as the care and education of young children, and their intellectual, emotional, and physical well-being. 

Alexandra Chiorando guides her professional work based on the principle that children thrive when they feel heard and respected. With over 20 years of experience in teaching and leading private schools and nurseries in the UK, her educational approach is lively, practical, and tailored to the needs of each child. 

Chris Connaughton began his career as an actor and has been involved in various UK theatre productions and artistic programs. In collaboration with CTC Theatre, he developed theatre for children and established Intext Performance to create and produce stories for young audiences. Currently, he delivers over 120 annual performances in schools, bringing the captivating world of theatre to children.

During the event, the ASSIST Humanitarian Foundation awarded Chris Connaughton a special distinction, recognizing his contribution to the event and the support provided. This distinction was presented by Rebeca Valencia, a special guest from the United States. She is the Operations Manager at COPAL (Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Accion Latina) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and during her visit to Romania, she supported our foundation by volunteering at various events and workshops we participated in. 

This conference highlighted the importance of early education and international models in this field, showing increased interest in developing and improving children's education. 

We are delighted to have taken a new step in developing the local educational system and are pleased to see many people eager to enhance their skills!