Over the past four years, Places to Grow (P2G) has worked to advance Early Childhood Development (ECD) across Central Europe. This report focuses on three countries where P2G is active: the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. It includes results from projects supported by the Joint Action Fund (JAF) grant scheme and information on the creation and growth of National ECD platforms. Additionally, the report shares key insights and milestones from our recent conference.

This document highlights our journey, showcasing the challenges we faced, the success stories we've achieved, and the thousands of children our collective efforts have positively impacted.

National Platforms: P2G has supported establishing and expanding national ECD platforms in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. These platforms continue to grow, increasing their reach and impact on children.
Policy Change in Slovakia: Through the JAF project with Cesta von, we successfully advocated for Slovak policy changes that secured dedicated financing for ECD.
Systemic Impact in the Czech Republic: Our collaboration with the Czech platform has led to tangible policy shifts, including stronger ministerial engagement and integration of ECD services within municipalities.
Regional ECD Prioritization: Thanks to the JAF, the Coordinated Services of ECD in a Selected Locality project, and the ECD Ecosystem Mapping and Visualization project in Slovakia’s Banská Bystrica Region, we elevated ECD to a priority, leading to concrete actions in Jelšava and within regional administration. The Czech ECD Platform has also seen positive results in four municipalities in the Czech Republic through its JAF Project.
High-Level Advocacy: The P2G Conference played a pivotal role in shaping the ECD agenda. Under the patronage of the First Lady of the Czech Republic, we brought together key experts and stakeholders, including government ministries, to drive progress.
Cross-Border Collaboration: P2G has fostered a dynamic, cross-border learning network, enabling organisations to share knowledge and strengthen cooperation

This report shares the country-specific context of early childhood development, the progress of the Places to Grow program, and concrete evidence of its effectiveness. By examining these outcomes, we aim to inspire and instil hope by demonstrating the program's potential for replication and its broader impact on society.

Catalysing systemic change through building trust, collaboration, and collective action.
Strengthening the regional ECD ecosystem for greater impact.
Bridging sectors to create integrated, accessible services.
Empowering ECD networks through evidence-based learning and collaboration.