Central and Eastern Europe
More about...
Where We Work
There are more than 40,000 children in Central and Eastern Europe and 65,000 in Russia who are blind. On average worldwide, less than 10 percent of these children currently have access to education. The chance to participate in educational programs is even more limited for those children who are blind with additional impairments or deafblind.
Perkins partners with local agencies in more than 15 countries in the region in a shared effort to provide these children with the educational opportunities they deserve. Today, our collaborative programs enable more than 1,850 children a year to learn and grow through educational programs.
Our Central and Eastern European partners are at the forefront of reshaping education for children with disabilities. There are countless examples of collaborative projects across the region.
In Hungary and the Czech Republic, Perkins works with schools to create model programs that prepare teachers in specialized education programs. In Slovakia and Turkey, we collaborate with parent groups to foster networks that support children's families. We assist universities in Russia and Ukraine to develop curricula for professionals in the field of education for children who are deafblind or multiply impaired.
Perkins coordinates regional conferences for educators and professionals that expand networking opportunities. To gain support for new programs, Perkins works with representatives from national education ministries. These combined initiatives transform entire communities, from the daily life of a child with disabilities to national education and health policies.
Countries that are home to our partners include: Armenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, and Ukraine. For more information, please contact Dennis Lolli, Regional Coordinator, at Dennis.Lolli@Perkins.org.