Programme developed by KUL Pedagogy supports missionaries and educators worldwide

Children, as the most precious treasure of Jesus the Lord, are to be cherished with care and love - so reads the first Rule of the Congregation of the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of which Blessed Edmund Bojanowski was the founder. In a year's time it will be the 210th anniversary of the Blessed's death, but we are still benefiting from the fruits of his work. The programme of pre-school education according to the pedagogical concept of Blessed Edmund Bojanowski was published two years ago under the editorship of Sister Dr Habil. Loyola Opiela, a professor at the Catholic University of Lublin. In a short time it has gained popularity not only in Poland, but also throughout the world. Why is this so? Missionaries and teachers report on the success of the programme.

Brazilian favelas

Father Jan Stasz comes from Zabrze in Silesia. More than forty years ago he decided to join the Verbites Congregation. After a few years, when he was ordained a priest, he decided to go to Brazil. He began his teaching career at the Colégio Arnaldo, where he taught religion to young people and was later promoted to rector. He is currently the parish priest of St Gabriel's Parish.

- "Thirty years ago I began my mission in Taquaril, a favela in the mountains above the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. In the beginning there was no electricity or water," the priest recalls. He adds that the neighbourhood was characterised by a large number of sects and a high crime rate. Thanks to the joint efforts of Father John and the Sisters, the situation has improved. In March 2002, a new nursery school dedicated to St John Paul II was inaugurated and the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, visited the school. Over 600 children, many from difficult backgrounds, are under the care of Father John, the Sisters and educators.

Halsingborg Childcare

Halsingborg is a beautiful coastal town in southern Sweden. The town has one Catholic church, St Clemens, where the Sisters Servants live, work and run the nursery. The children attending the nursery come from various religions and countries, including Thailand, Denmark, Nigeria and Lebanon.
- A major advantage of the programme is the integrity of the education. The children are prepared for life in a practical and independent way," says Sister Sancja Dutczak of the Congregation of the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. She is the director and educator of the group. She adds that an education based on the values of Blessed Edmund Bojanowski, such as kindness, respect for human dignity, together with social, aesthetic and physical education, gives the children a sense of security and teaches them sensitivity to the world, to others and to nature. Children attend the kindergarten from the age of one. The older children help the younger ones and the younger ones learn independence, openness to others and important skills such as tidying up, setting the table, sorting rubbish and keeping things tidy.

Zabaykalsky Krai

Dasha Konovalova is a Little Servant Sister of the Immaculate Conception. She works with young people in Chita, Siberia. She chose a life of service to God and to children because she is convinced that education must begin with children, because it is through them that the rebirth of man takes place. 50 children of different ages are gathered at the centre in the city of Chita, which Sister Dasha runs with other Sisters. In addition to the lessons, holidays with God are organised, where the children can rest, play and not forget to pray. "The advantage of the pre-school educational programme according to the pedagogical concept of Blessed Edmund Bojanowski is the playful format for the children. The children acquire knowledge, a deep faith and life values in a natural way," concludes the Sister.

About the programme

The aim of the Pre-school Education Programme according to the pedagogical concept of Blessed Edmund Bojanowski is the integral upbringing and full development of the child, in relation to the Christian system of values. In addition to the educational content, there is a multimedia supplement containing games, plays and stories based on Blessed Edmund Bojanowski's notes, developed by the Academy of Modern Media and Communication of the Catholic University of Lublin. Within two years, the programme was translated into eight languages, including German, Spanish, English, Russian, French and Ukrainian. It serves to support the work of priests and sisters in Siberia, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador. The total number of downloads from the Repozytorium KUL amounts to several thousand of copies.