In terms of business, the field of education is, probably, one of the most complicated for many reasons, including huge responsibility that bears everyone who works with young generation, their influence on little brains, and high qualification which is absolutely necessary for successful work in this field. Yulia Demydenko, an early-learning educator, leading expert in education and business projects development, the managing partner of Clever Kids, knows this firsthand.
Her future aspirations were based on education she got at a school in the USA where she spent a year, having won a grant. Upon coming back and enrolling at a university, she found a job at an international company. In 3 years she was offered a project: to set up and manage an agency employed in training of top-level staff. In such a way she began working at educational projects. Having found how greatly the lack of motivation and enthusiasm comes in a way of effective learning, she changed her business concept, but she could not stop trying to understand why those young adults did not use the opportunities that were provided to them.
At that moment, having familiarized herself with English system of career orientation programs, Yulia started working with schoolchildren and their parents, and comparing local and west educational systems and a choice of occupation and career at home and in England and America in the process of her work. She drew a conclusion that unwise interference often impairs children, that it is best to just provide them with conditions for harmonious development, help them learn how to feel and hear themselves, find their place in the family and community, to learn, not be afraid to make mistakes and correct them, and to listen to themselves. From this realization she got an idea to set up a Child Development Club that at first occupied just one room at the office of the consulting company. Its success was tremendous and unexpected. In two years its floor doubled in size and number of clients increased from 45 to 90. In 2007 clients` credit of trust was so large and their number was growing so fast that a new revolutionary at that period of time system of service and payment option was introduced – clients were offered to pay for 6 or 12 month in advance instead of paying just for 1 or several lessons like it was common among other child learning centers. In 2009 the club was rebranded and got a new name – Clever Kids, new web-site, online-diary of children` achievements, new marketing concept, creative ideas of promotion. The results were well worth it.
In 2011 Clever Kids educational complex was set up – Yulia and her team managed to open a cozy kindergarten in just 3 month in spite of general assurances that it was not feasible.
Today Clever Kids doesn’t stay in one place: all its areas are being regularly renewed and improved. Clever Kids became the first kindergarten that provides all the education services under one roof. Educational program at the kindergarten aims at inclusive development of children, their self-dependence, individuality, creativity, and social skills.
But it is not the only thing that Yulia and her team do: for a couple of years now they are helping investors and those who want to develop educational projects do it professionally, quickly and successfully, while accepting responsibility for child-rearing.
Among difficulties typical for educational projects, Yulia names a problem of plagiarism, also the lack of corporate and business ethics, low qualification of teachers and educators after they graduate from universities, incomprehension of a teacher`s mission, low standards and requirements to this profession, the need to re-train teachers (for this purpose Iulia with her team have elaborated a system of teachers training, mentoring and supervision). Some people think that their own experience in parenting is enough to set up a child early learning center. Others cling to old methods and do not realize how much behind of real time they are. In as delicate and complicated field as child learning and upbringing it is absolutely necessary to have a systematic approach and vast professional experience.
To those who would like to develop educational projects, Yulia recommends to, first of all, evaluate responsibility and decide for themselves if they have enough motivation for such a complicated project, if their services would be beneficial to kids and society. A lot of people set up such establishments and soon close them. Or, even worse, keep working but do not realize their responsibility and consequences of their actions. With correct approach and modern techniques, education can become a driving force for both individual and society.
