Slovakia

Slovakia

With the "For Families" program, we support children from birth to 6 years of age and their families across Slovakia. We focus on early childhood development because the first six years of life are crucial for brain development and strongly shape a child’s future. We cooperate with two NGO partners: Union of mother centers and Jeden rodič.

The latest data show that 18.3% of Slovak inhabitants were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2024. Poverty affects 37.8% of single-parent households with one or more dependent children and 32.7% of two-parent families with three or more dependent children. Children under 18 are the most vulnerable age group: one in five (22.6%) lives in a household with income below the poverty line.

Learning for Life
The “Learning for Life” programme was launched within The Human Safety Net initiative in cooperation with the Union of Mother Centres in Slovakia. It supports disadvantaged families (socially, financially, medically) with the aim of reducing poverty through inclusive education. This free programme targets families with children aged 0–6 years. Over 11 months, families meet weekly in mother/family centres for workshops led by certified lecturers. Each session lasts 2–3 hours, during which parents learn, using the Montessori method, how to develop their children’s skills in a playful way. Education focuses on sensory-motor, language, and social skills, fine-tuning senses, and developing thinking. Children also learn in areas such as colour recognition, mathematics, and geography, among others.

Building Brighter Future for Children in Single-Parent Families
Single-parent families are among the most vulnerable groups in Slovakia. Out of 1.4 million households, 357,000 are led by a single parent, caring for around 510,000 children. Nearly half of these families live at risk of poverty, affecting more than 270,000 children. With poverty thresholds rising and services unevenly distributed across regions, too many children start life without the stable environment they need to learn, grow, and thrive. Jeden rodič, founded in 2019, has become a lifeline for these families. Through social assistance, psychological counseling, and guidance, it has already helped 1,396 single parents regain stability, equipped 3,953 parents and children with essential skills, and delivered over 48,500 hours of professional counseling. Now, through a new partnership with The Human Safety Net, this impact is set to expand significantly.

The program

  • “Learning for Life”

“Learning for Life” was launched in November 2018 in six cities across Slovakia. Today, the Union of Mother Centres operates in 20 centres and 26 locations nationwide. The programme is free of charge and has already helped 943 children and 730 families. Mother centres have organized 3,302 courses, and centre leaders also visit families in their homes. Additionally, 1,151 children have attended summer camps. An important part of the programme is the Support Network, which connects parents in need with institutions and organizations that can help.
 

  • “Small Steps – Big Changes”

Launched in September 2025, this programme will provide long-term support for 300 single-parent families and 400 children across three Slovak cities: Liptovský Mikuláš, Levice, and Vranov nad Topľou—regions where unemployment is high and access to early childhood services is limited. The programme ensures that children from birth to age six receive early-intervention support that can change the entire trajectory of their lives. Over an eight-month tailored journey, each family works with a dedicated social worker focusing on key developmental areas: motor development, language and communication, social skills and interaction, and emotional well-being and regulation. Beyond individual care, every four months the programme brings families together for playful, interactive community events. These gatherings help reduce isolation, build peer networks, and connect parents to local resources and support systems.

Partners involved

Local activities

The Union of Mother Centres

The Union of Mother Centres is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that supports the creation of mother and family centres across Slovakia. It helps these centres grow locally, unites them nationally, and ensures they maintain a strong and recognized position in society. Its mission is to achieve dignity and recognition for motherhood, creating a better world where mothers and children have a respected place. It strives to create conditions that support motherhood in the best interest of the child, mother, and family.

Jeden rodič

Founded in 2019, Jeden rodič supports single-parent families through social assistance, advocacy, counseling, financial and career guidance, and humanitarian aid. Through its Annual Support Programme, 1,396 parents regained stability, and 3,953 parents and children gained new skills in parenting, coping, and managing finances. Professional counselors delivered 48,531 hours of support.

The NGO also organized aid, collecting 40,409 kg of food and 20,298 kg of clothing for families in need. It promotes online and offline participation of single parents in discussions about rights and needs, aiming to build stability, resilience, and hope for a better future.

Photo credits: Veronika Seliga Pilatova