From Tuesday 4 March to Friday 7 March 2025, Dr Charmaine Bonello, from the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education, Faculty of Education, University of Malta, and a member of the board of administrators at the Malta Foundation of the Wellbeing of Society was honoured to visit Bulgaria for an enriching academic and professional exchange. During this visit, Dr Bonello presented at the University of Sofia, visited a kindergarten in Sofia, and engaged with experts at the Early Childhood Development Complex in Plovdiv.

A key highlight of the visit was the presentation of the recently published co-authored book, An Emergent Curriculum for the Early Years in Malta: Stories of Professional and Pedagogical Transformation. This provided an opportunity to discuss and reflect on rights-based, child-centred, and play-based curricula, particularly the emergent curriculum approach. The exchange of ideas was both insightful and inspiring, fostering a deeper understanding of the successes and challenges in early childhood education and care in both Malta and Bulgaria.

Following Dr Bonello’s presentation, one of the University of Sofia students shared their reflections, stating: "It is very interesting, not many places know of this practice, and it is important for young people."

This statement highlights the significance of knowledge-sharing and the impact of transformational early childhood approaches (from traditional to rights-based and child-centred) in diverse educational contexts.

Dr Bonello extends her deepest appreciation to Her Excellency President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca (The Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society) and Dr Ivanka Shalapatova (Former Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Bulgaria) for making this visit possible. Dr Shalapatova shared her academic research at the University of Sofia, focusing on the importance of parent partnerships in early childhood education.

Dr Bonello is also grateful to the following esteemed individuals and organisations for their support and collaboration: 

• Dean of the Faculty of Education Prof. Dr Vanya Bozhilova & Prof. Vanya Rossitsa Simeonova (University of Sofia)
• Ms Rossitsa Bogalinska-Petrova & Ms Plamena Nikolova (Rise Bulgaria)
• Mr Trendafil Meretev and colleagues (For Our Children Foundation)
• The dedicated academics, students, leaders, and early childhood educators in Bulgaria who contributed their insights and expertise.

This visit has reaffirmed the power of meaningful partnerships in advancing high-quality early childhood education and care. The connections made will serve as a foundation for continued collaboration in the future.