The name has historical roots dating back to 1991.

Originally, SOFT stood for the Hungarian phrase Segítsd, Óvd Fogyatékos Társad (“Help and Protect Your Peer with Disability”).

The Dutch branch later added tulip, symbolizing its Netherlands origin.

  • 1991

    SOFT tulip was registered.

  • 1999

    Building Early Childhood intervention services in Kharkiv.

    Photo news for 1999
  • 2005

    SOFT tulip (as the Dutch branch of ISF) meets Path of Life in Debrecen (Hungary), which leads to the official collaboration in 2006 in Ukraine.

  • 2007

    SOFT tulip begins Early Intervention training, shifting from advocacy work to capacity-building. Soft tulip starts training EI teams in Lviv & Uzhhorod with Kharkiv experts.

  • 2008

    SOFT tulip started supporting parent organizations: including parents’ groups, strengthening their involvement in Early Intervention activities.

  • Since 2008

    SOFT tulip ECI program starts expanding the network in Ukraine in partnership with UNICEF, National Assembly of People with Disabilities.

  • 2015

    Meeting the vice governor of Kharkiv.

    Photo news for 2015
  • 2016

    Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Rozenko Soft tulip (within the alliance) presents the EI approach and evidence at the deputy-prime-minister level to discuss the next steps to be taken at the governmental level.

  • 2016

    Government approves Early Childhood Intervention plan, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approval sets an official course for EI; ministries are tasked with drafting and coordination. This set an official course and assigned ministries to create the MoU and the national EI platform that Soft tulip would help launch the next year.

  • 2016-2019

    Development of the Parent’s movement “Parents for Early intervention”.

    Photo news for 2016-2019
  • 2017

    Memorandum of Understanding on Early Intervention (MoU) on Early Intervention signed between SOFT tulip UNICEF, NAPD, Early Intervention Institute Kharkiv, a parents’ representative, Soft tulip, and Eurlyaid). An Official birth of the National EI Policy Platform Soft tulip helped create.

    Photo news for 2017
  • 2018

    NL talks with acting MoH Ulyana Suprun; platform secretariat prepares an important step for institutionalization, ministerial backing for the platform secretariat and trainer certification/transition work.

  • 2019

    Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Resolution "Development of the National Council for Early Intervention"

  • 2009-2019

    Order of the Cabinet of Ministers №350-r of May 22, 2019, which identifies 10 pilot areas.

    Photo news for 2009-2019
  • 2019

    Meetings of the National Council.

    Photo news for 2019
  • 2019

    National EI Council set up; members appointed incl. SOFT tulip → Soft tulip embedded in formal governance, advising on national EI rollout.

  • 2019

    First EI Council meeting with SOFT tulip as a member. Meantime Platform becomes operational; cross-ministerial body starts working with an established governance and expansion, including a national coordinator, a permanent advisory council with SOFT tulip as a member, an increase in pilot regions from 4 to 10, and the council's inaugural meeting.

  • 2021

    Meetings of the National Council.

  • 2021

    The Concept of creation and development of the system of early intervention was approved (order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine № 517 of 26.05.2021). Action Plan approved (order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine № 1117 of 15.09.2021). Approved Guidelines for the organization of early intervention services (Order of the Ministry of Social Policy №92 of 18.02.2021)

  • 2022

    Meetings of the National Council.

  • 2023

    In August 2023, the Ukrainian Association for Early Childhood Intervention (UAEI) was established.

    Photo news for 2023
  • 2025

    SOFT tulip, GGZ Noord-Holland-Noord and the Department of Social Policy of Zakarpattia signed an Agreement of Cooperation for 2026-2031.