‘One should not go, but grow through life. As we develop our personality, we should also act in terms of business, constantly developing and upgrading ourselves.’
The magic of upbringing – kids acquire most at play
The private kindergarten ‘Čarolija’ (Magic) from Lukavac is involved in upbringing and education of preschool and school children aged 3 to 10 years. What makes it unique and innovative is the programme that allows children to develop in intellectual, cultural and sport sense. Through creative play, kids are educated and encouraged to express their talents in their early childhood. Ms Amila Rikert, the kindergarten owner, says she got the idea when her daughter was about to start going to the kindergarten. ‘There was the lack of preschool institutions in Lukavac to offer a good preparation of children for the school. No events for children were organised either. I first started working at home with my friends’ children, and their recommendations brought new children and parents and this is how the business started to grow. I wanted to have my own space to gather the youngest citizens of the town and involve in innovative and creative workshops with them. In 2014, Amila founded a citizens association and invested her time and effort in the quality of work, which resulted in a constant increase in the number of children. They soon moved to larger premises and set a new goal – to include a school programme into the kindergarten’s offer.
‘At one moment, I ‘entered’ the YEP Incubator to help us develop a preschool programme so that children could acquire the necessary knowledge and skills in Čarolija rather than going to other educational institutions. As we equipped an outdoor playground, an area of 70 square meters, we got an official decision from the institutions of government, and we became the first private institution with a preschool program, “Amila says. A speech-language pathologist by vocation, Amila mostly dealt with the difficulties in reading and speaking and worked on fine motor skills, preparing boys and girls for school. The parents were satisfied with the results, especially those achieved in relation to focusing attention. Amila says she is in love with her job and that working with children every day makes her happy and accomplished person.
‘You just need to believe and love what you do. No job should be seen only from material perspective. Of course, it is important to earn but love is what matters most. If I had looked at this job only in terms of money, I would never be doing this’ Amila says laughing and adds:
‘One should not go, but grow through life. As we develop our personality, we should also act in terms of business, constantly developing and upgrading ourselves.’
‘Don’t forget an indispensable and necessary support by people you love and who love you’, concludes the owner of private preschool educational institution Čarolija.
