July 2019 – OvidiuRo’s Sotron Summer Program started all over Romania!

With the beginning of summer, dozens of Summer Programs started all over Romania. By the end of August, over 1500 preschool teachers from around 500 communities signed up for the 2-week educational module that brings children from disadvantaged rural and urban areas to the kindergarten over the summer. In June, the volunteer teachers attended at least one training held by OvidiuRo master-trainers (7 regional and 14 county training sessions). The aim of the Summer Programs is that as many children as possible who have no other learning stimulus during the summer vacation have an engaging learning experience in kindergarten.

This year’s first Summer Program took place at Gura Şuţii, Dâmboviţa county. The Demo Workshop was organized and conducted by Maria Gheorghiu, co-founder, and trainer OvidiuRo, and it was visited by 250 volunteer teachers from Dâmboviţa and neighboring counties. The visitors observed the teaching methods focused on literacy development, science experiments, music & movement, and outdoor activities.

Altogether, more than 6000 preschool children (4-6 years) all over Romania will participate in the Summer Programs. This year, in addition to the many educational materials provided by OvidiuRo, every child attending will receive at least one book to take home.

The theme of this year’s Summer Program is the Living World – Plants and Animals, and every day explores this theme in different ways through integrated activities that follow the curriculum for preschool education. The goal is to create a learning community through play, reading, experimentation and science, music and movement, and numerous Montessori activities – all aiming to develop patience and autonomy, to strengthen knowledge, and encourage cooperation.

This year, a science module supported by Raiffeisen Bank Romania (a Major Investor in OvidiuRo’s programs) was added to the Sotron Summer Program.