Between 22nd and 24th October, Sofia’s Grand Millenium Hotel hosted the 2024 international conference of the International Step by Step Association (ISSA).
The event brought together professionals from over 50 countries as well as government representatives from 13 countries to focus on systemic change impacting on early childhood development – speaking / advocating for change, how to move in the right direction and how to respond to global challenges.
Equilibrium’s contribution included sharing lessons learned from its work in support of family activism (‘Families as agents of systemic change’, Tanya’s Dream Fund). Additionally, we were represented in a panel discussion on challenges in the sphere of Roma activism and self-representation.
David Bisset illustrated the power of expressions of solidarity between service providers and their clients in the context of parent advocacy.
However, this depends on working towards a context of public service in which unification of the voices of professional and client makes absolute sense. Proceduralism coupled with paternalism mean that the client remains subservient and, more-than-likely, dependent.
Before David spoke, prominent parent advocate Taliah Drayak, had graphically illustrated the devastation caused when parents and children are separated on flimsy pretexts. At best this represents risk aversion. However, David referred to growth in a dangerous “expert-trumps-parent” mindset in western countries.
ISSA program manager, Aloja Rudas, referred to research showing how members of the Roma community expect to be discriminated against and referred to how it impacts on their style of social engagement and emotional capacity as parent advocates.
David revealed how labelling and crude categorisation show discrimination against others living in precarious circumstances. It is incumbent on service providers to create a safe space where lived experience can be revealed and lessons learned and acted upon.
EQ attempts to break the mould of paternalistic service provision.