THE KOKO LEPO AUTONOMOUS KINDERGARTEN

"The Koko Lepo Autonomous Kindergarten began in July, 2013 in the Inex Film squat in the Karaburma neighborhood of Belgrade. Depending on the season and the ability of our teachers, it works three to five days a week for about four hours each day with children between the ages of three and six. The kindergarten is free and is designed for children from socioeconomically marginalized social groups. With the agreement and support of the parents, the group has between 15 and 25 children who live in a settlement near Inex Film.

Koko Lepo offers the basic skills needed to work within general society and eventually enroll in official scholastic programs while still combining alternative pedagogical practices, exploring new models of social relations, and sharing teaching duties with the children whenever possible. Included in this knowledge base is the ability tell time the time, dates and seasons, differentiating colors, shapes and letters, learning about cultural difference, listening to and playing with music, practicing communication and hygiene, and a basic understanding of feelings, nature, animals, and more. Along with communication development, motor skills and basic mathematical ability, Koko Lepo nurtures practical and social skills by fostering values of sharing, community, creative work, concentration, independence, gender equality, accountability and self-awareness. Furthermore, every day the children receive a hot vegetarian meal and the teachers themselves transport the children to and from the settlement.

Koko Lepo does not cooperate with the State or NGOs and maintains an anti-bureaucratic and anti-capitalist character. The collective is sustained through the support of individuals and allied autonomous collectives, primarily anarchist and antifascist groups, as well as benefit parties and events. All the money we receive goes to replenishing exhausted supplies, occasionally providing clothing items to the children, and ensuring a healthy hot lunch each school day. We therefore invite those who would like to support the work of the autonomous kindergarten to send appropriate donations as well as to share their knowledge, skills, and advice on how we might improve our operation. Moreover, if you are in the area, please stop in to meet and socialize with us and our kids!

We strongly believe that we, as self-organized individuals, can do something good and important for these children by enabling to mature in their feelings, relationships, and skills as we grow alongside them. We invite you to help in accordance with your abilities.

Yours,
The Koko Lepo Autonomous Kindergarten"

-on Serbian:

"Koko Lepo autonomni vrtić počeo je sa radom jula 2013.godine u zgradi Inex Filma na Karaburmi. U zavisnosti od sezone i mogućnosti učitelja/ica, radionice za decu od 3 do 6 godina starosti, održavaju se od tri do pet puta nedeljno u trajanju od 4 sata. Vrtić je besplatan i namenjen je deci iz socijalno ekonomski marginalizovanih društvenih grupa, a održava se uz dogovor i podršku roditelja. Grupicu čini 15 do 25oro dece koja žive u beogradskom slamu/naseju u blizini Inex Filma.

Kombinujući alternativne pedagoške prakse, istražujući drugačije modele odnosa, učeći od dece i sa decom, ono što kolektiv Koko Lepo vrtića želi da pruži, jesu osnovna znanja i veštine koje su potrebne da bi se lakše snalazilo u društvu, eventualno upisalo u školu i potstakle dobre navike. U to spadaju osnovna znanja o računanju vremena, bojama, brojevima, oblicima, slovima, različitim kulturama, muzici, higijeni, osećanjima, prirodi, životinjama, komunikaciji i sl., razvoj govora, matematičkih pojmova, praktičnih i socijalnih veština, kao i potsticanje vrednosti deljenja, zajedništva, rada, a uz to razvijamo i motoriku, koncentraciju, samostalnost, odgovornost, rodnu jednakost, samosvest i kreativnost.
Takođe svakoga dana deci pripremamo jedan vegeterijanski obrok, dovodimo ih ujutru u vrtić i pratimo kući nakon vrtića.

Koko Lepo ne sarađuje sa Državom, korporacijama ili NVO-ima i njegova održivost se obezbeđuje mimo birokratija i papirologija, kroz lične donacije pojedinaca, benefit žurke koje sami organizujemo i kroz solidarne akcije prijateljskih autonomnih projekata.

Za kvalitetan rad nam nije potrebno mnogo novca, ali ipak nam je potrebno da deci obezbedimo adekvatan pribor za rad, svež i topao ručak, a ponekad i odeću i obuću.

Zato pozivamo sve one koji bi želeli da podrže rad vrtića, da pomognu donacijama u vidu bilo čega što smatrate da bi poboljšalo rad vrtića, podelite sa nama Vaše ideje, znanja i veštine, ili svratite da se upoznamo i družimo.
Ukoliko se odlučite za donacije u novcu, napominjemo da je novac koji nam je potreban – cifra koju je jedan pojedinac spreman da izdvoji u skladu sa svojim mogućnostima, obzirom da je sve što radimo, inicijativa nekolicine ljudi da u saradnji sa roditeljima dece, pružimo toj deci podršku i pomoć u odrastanju i pritom se drugarski povezujemo sa decom i uživamo u tome, te tako ne želimo da stvaramo nikakvu institucionalizovanu organizaciju, formalizujemo naše odnose i sarađujemo sa pravnim licima.

Vaš
Koko Lepo Kolektiv"