Getting To Know International Contacts, Part 3 

 

We are winding down... and this is almost my last blog assignment for Issues and Trends in Early Childhood. The course has been one of my favorite thus far. This week I had the opportunity to navigate through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) international website and was moved by the cause that has been set into place titled, International Day of the Girl Child. The resolution and/or cause is to recognize the empowerment, rights and investment in girls. Recognition of this resolution is critical, as girls play a vital role in economic growth, achievement of all Millennium Development Goals that include the eradication of the various types of poverty, and allowing girls to participate in the decisions that affect them. Allowance of "women and girls' " participation will help break the cycle of unfair practices and injustices against them and especially where education is concerned. 

 

There are many injustices that have affected "GIRLS".   Did you know that...

 

FACT: 31 million girls of primary school age are out of school. Of these, 17 million are expected never to enter school.

 

FACT: Three countries have over a million plus girls not in school. Pakistan, Nigeria, and Ethiopia.  These countries exhibit the highest rate of inequity in education. 

 

FACT:  There are 34 million female adolescents out of school that are missing out on the chance to learn vital skills for work and life.  

 

FACT: Girls who do not complete an education are more likely to join the ranks of the illiterate women that represent two-thirds of the 774 million illiterate people in the world.

 

These numbers are astounding but with organizations and child advocates such as UNESCO that stand-up and fight for inequalities and social injustices for the voiceless, will help to put an end to these unfair barriers.   

 

“Better Life, Better Future” Campaign

 

The other insight that I have gleaned is the opportunity to become involved in the, “Better Life, Better Future” campaign.  This is an opportunity to become involved in helping women and girls become better prepared for their future. By investing in ways to help improve the lives and futures of girls and women in the most underprivileged countries and settings will be rewarding.  I believe by partnering with advocates such as UNESCO’s Global Partnership for Girls’ and Women’s Education will help provide a solid platform, bringing together UNESCO’s unique experience in education and its extended multi-sectoral network. Partnership is extended to many organizations such as government, private sector, foundations and media and others. 

 

 

 

 

Reference:

 

UNESCO’s “Early Childhood Care and Education” webpage (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-

 

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                                    Sharing Web Resources, PART 3

Sharing my blog assignment for Week 6, ACEI news...

     ACEI is the website I chose during the beginning of our class assignment. We were asked to follow some of the outside links. One link I chose to follow was titled, "Country Liaison Program". This is a site in which ACEI's Country Liaison program encourages the development of a network of ACEI volunteer liaisons from various nations around the world. Some of the nations that are part of the liaison is Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Once you click on the country there are sub countries that will also come up to show other countries that part of the liaison. Its sole purpose is to gather information about childhood education practices and policies in various nations, and to share this information with members and non-members, provide information to support the development of association programs, and promote international and intercultural understanding (ACEI, 2015). 
     Another site that I navigated was the ACEI international affiliates. This links provides names of international countries that are part of ACEI.

     One of the areas that I have thoroughly researched is the link to the "Advocacy" page. This site focuses on education advocacy by promoting Education Diplomacy. This can best be described as the ability to understand how ones work impacts an entire system. The mission is to catalyze education reform and human advancement. It is an approach to the education profession that requires continuous knowledge gathering, creation, and sharing; an awareness of oneself as much as an appreciation of relationships with others; and sensitivity to the contextual and cultural complexities to theory and practice in the field. On a professional level the education diplomacy requires the ability to, understand how one's work impacts an entire system, connect broad global trends with their direct or indirect effects on education, and utilize knowledge, tools, and cooperative initiatives to facilitate achieving one's goals as an educator. If professionals are interested in becoming part of the diplotersmacy there is another link directing individuals to the Center for Education Diplomacy. (ACEI, 2015).

     I have not subscribed to any newsletters from ACEI but I  have navigated through their Global News and found an article, Disparities in Access, which reconfirms the disparity regarding children's access to pre-k programs. The article provides stats on the low numbers of four year olds enrolled in these programs. It also validates the reasons why it is so important for early learners to attend pre-k programs. Reading this article helps me to understand even the more why access to pre-school and pre-k programs must be increased for children. These beginning years are crucial in their developing appropriate skills in their learning.

     Another insight I've gleaned is that adequate amount of funding is not provided to support the needs of the programs that need to be in place. There are so many children that are not able to attend preschool/pre-k because the funding is not appropriately allocated throughout.  Unfortunately, in the past, many cuts in early education has been applied. As additional research and policy makers continue to lobby and promote the importance of early childhood, funding may be increased to help support and meet the needs of the children.


Reference:
http://www.acei.org

 

Getting to Know Web Resources -Part 2

 

The Global Children's Initiative is an awesome website filled with information and research on child development in every aspect. One insight found is there is an organization called, Grand Challenges Canada, Saving Brains, which its focus is to improve the outcome of children that are living in poverty through intervention that nurtures and protects the early child brain development for the first 1000 days of a child's life. The program's objective is to bring together mentors and experts in the field of early childhood development, innovative systems and learning communities. The program's is spearheaded by the Center on the Developing Child.  Their primary focus is to enhance the collective impact of the Saving Brains program.

Another insight found, the NCPI is an organization that seeks to apply scientific knowledge to inform new strategies that will improve the well-being and life outcomes of vulnerable children in Brazil, while also supporting sustainable social and economic development in the country. The website offers collaborative work regarding practice, policy and research within the Brazilian community that impacts the Brazilian early childhood. This program seems to be significant within it self as it has helped to improve the lives of many children living in Brazil.

 

Another insight is that the website offers training modules as professional development opportunities. In particular, Building Brain Architecture: The Foundations of Lifelong Learning, Health and Achievement. This is actually connected to the Frontier of Innovations. This online professional development module communicates the science of development to adults whose decisions affect children, youth, and families. It has four distinct sections, which provide a basic overview of how early child and brain development happens, how it can be derailed and supported, and what effects early development can have on lifetime health and learning.  

The Global Children's Initiative is a great resource and has many affiliates within the website. Other links that also scientific and research information is , the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, National Forum on Early Childhood Policy and Programs, Frontier of Innovation and Scientific of Adversity and Resilience.  All links support the health and well-being of children.

Reference

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/),


 

 

 

Sharing Web Resources, Part 2
 



     Several weeks ago I shared information regarding the organization I chose to further study.  The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) is the organization of choice and the web address is as follows: www.acei.org. The organization reaches out and provides a wealth of knowledge on what's taking place on a global perspective. 

     While navigating through the site, what I have found relevant to my professional development is the publication articles that provide information on various early childhood development programs.  I came across the bulletin titled, Early Years Bulletin, an ACEI publication that offers information for professionals on teaching and caring for children ages 0-6. This is a great resource for me as a Director of a family child care program. It can be utilized in such a way that I can share information with my staff and in-home family child care providers that are keeping up with training or doing a special project. Many of my providers seek to achieve their CDA and this is a great way to share information knowledge and inform them of current issues and trends that are taking place not only locally but in a global aspect as well. Also, they are affiliated with other organizations that can also be a great contributor to my professional development and help me to become more versed within the early childhood field. 

     One of the resources that I found to be enlightening is the promotion of ACEI's campaign tilted: Love Me, Teach Me.  The campaign speaks volume to me as an individual and professional and as to deeply focus on the very-being of a child. The heart of the campaign is to "promote the needs and rights of children everywhere. The campaign is built upon four cornerstones, each contributing to the well-being of children and related intimately to children’s needs and rights. These four cornerstones are See Me, Hear Me, Love Me, and Teach Me, and they apply to all children, worldwide. The campaign is named Love Me, Teach Me because these two cornerstones contribute most significantly to a child’s overall development and well-being (ACEI, 2014). The campaign is one that I will definitely be sharing with my colleagues and organization that can be marketed throughout our Child, Youth and School Services programs.

  

     One of the resources available on the website that adds to my understanding of how economists, neuroscientists and politicians contribute and support the early childhood field is that they provide a publication called Global News.  The link provides many archive articles and publications that address issues and trends on  a global level and gives opportunities for economists, neuroscientists and politicians the chance to voice their opinions and concerns about what is taking place on a global aspect. In particular, an archive publication titled: The World Economic Forum is an organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global. regional, and industry agendas. Conferences are held on a yearly basis to discuss economic issues that impact growth and development.  Additionally, ACEI also has implemented the Institute for Global Education Diplomacy. This is a summit that is also held each year and gives opportunity for advocates to come together and focus on issues and trends in education and early childhood. 

     One of the new insights about issues and trends that I have gained pertaining to the early childhood and educational field is the fact that there is a global attack on education that has impacted many countries that have been involved in wars. Unlike the U.S., military soldiers have taken over schools, universities and buildings that have robbed children of their well-being and educational experience. When this take-over is implemented many schools and facilities are forced to close. It is said that when children remain in schools with a military presence, they can be exposed to sexual violence, forced labor, and forcible recruitment. Girls are often the target of sexual abuse by soldiers and many parents will keep them home from school. Reading about these occurrences has opened my eyes and appreciate that I live in a nation that has not experienced these types of issues presented.  Thankfulness is the "Word" of the day.  There is so much to be thankful and grateful for.  Learning of these global issues that affect children have only made me more compassionate as an individual.


References

https://www.acei.org
 

 

Getting to Know Your International Contacts

 

 

This week's Blog assignment we were asked to introduce our international contacts that we have been in connection with the during the past three weeks.  Unfortunately, I was not able to get a hold of anyone that I sent three email correspondence to.  I also went on to the next step in which we could listen to podcasts and try and connect with a contact as well. Again, I was unsuccessful in my attempt to make another contact. So, in my next attempt we could navigate the UNICEF website and read about childhood poverty in one country and share at least three insights or ideas that I have gained from studying the website. UNICEF was the international organization that I initially reached out to when looking to find out about several other countries. I am actually a bit disappointed that I could not make a connection with the organization during the past several weeks.
 

However, Lagos, Nigeria is one of the countries I chose to read about in regards to poverty. This is one of the countries that I was hoping to actually hear back from an early childhood educator/professional.  This would have been a great net-work in receiving feedback and first-hand knowledge.  Insights that I would like to share is the fact that Lagos is considered an urban city, which has about 10.2 billion living and dwelling in the city. Surprisingly the city is built on and around swamp areas.  It is said that 49 percent of the population are children under the age of eighteen years of age that live and dwell in poverty. Many of the children are homeless and are left to fend for themselves.  As a result,  many young boys are recruited on the streets and trained as pickpocketers.

Another insight gained concerning Lagos, Nigeria is that there is a high influx of human trafficking and exploitation of children. Many young children are exploited and sold on the streets. In an attempt to end human trafficking, Nigerian lawmakers and officials have attempted to take a stand against the slave trade. Back in 2005, 52 children were apprehended at the border. As a result, many lives were saved from a life of slave trade and labor. . Human trafficking is not uncommon and happens everyday in many countries and within our own back door. This is a crime against children that lawmakers need to address and put an end too. 

The third insight gained, the country of Nigeria has experienced an epidemic of the polio virus. Many children have died as a result of the widespread issue. As a humanitarian effort, UNICEF has partnered with others to help put an end to the epidemic.  Groups were formed that consisted of caregivers, vaccinators, traditional and religious leaders- to systematically engage in advocacy and programming to reach out to children. The group traveled great distance to reach every child/children, by foot, motorbikes, car and boat to reach every child so that they would be vaccinated.  As a result of UNICEF's commitment, they have successfully developed a strategy that has nearly eradicated the polio virus (UNICEF, 2011). 

In review of the country of Nigeria, it is evident that many unfair issues and trends are existent against children. Organizations such as UNICEF and its partners have come together to help fight against the unfair treatment and practices against children. 

Reference:

http://www.unicef.org/infobycounty/Nigeria


 

 

Sharing Web Resources  




 

 

 

 

 

The name of the organization I selected is the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) which is a 501 c 3 charitable organization dedicated to promoting the optimal education and development of children in a changing world through various programs and projects that align with ACEI's mission. ACEI's tagline is "Bright futures for every child, every nation," which highlights ACEI's commitment to support and advocate for access to education, equity in educational settings, quality educational content, and the child's right to education (ACEI, 2015). 

While navigating through the site, I came across an article titled, "Prohibiting Corporal Punishment" which seemed to have caught my attention as I have always been intolerant of abuse against children. The article spoke of the use of any physical or mental harm to children that is used as a form of punishment and how it is still practiced worldwide in many countries of diverse economic and political status. I was saddened by the fact that there are about 73 countries in existent that still practice corporal punishment today. The use of corporal punishment is an act of cruelty and it is my belief that children are to be protected and not be mentally or physically abused in any capacity.

 

Although this type of punishment still exist today, there are many educational systems that prohibit the practice of corporal punishment of children. It is said that there are approximately 125 countries that prohibit this act. The report urges these nations to take action and undergo legal reforms and other measures to end the widespread violent punishment of children in learning settings (ACEI, 2015).

One way my organization prohibits the use of any corporal punishment is that  all of our employees, in-home providers, contractors and managerial staff have to sign our Employee Standards of Conduct Policy, in which, corporal punishment is highlighted and is not tolerated at all. All of our parents that use our programs are given the parent handbook and made aware of our policy.

 

Much can be said about abuse and corporal punishment of children. Whether children are being abused at home or in schools, the act of corporal punishment is wrong and inhuman and should never be used as a scare tactic or form of discipline in any capacity.  I understand that there are many cultures that STILL practice this but this is where advocates and policy makers both nationally and internationally must take action and continue to fight for the rights of children. Policymakers and advocates have an obligation to fight even harder on the behalf of children. 

 

I love the philosophy of the ACEI which states, "a school should be a safe and friendly environment for all children, not a place where they are physically or mentally harmed by educators or caregivers. Research has shown that the emotional and physical effects of corporal punishment hinder children’s ability to learn, and negatively affects children’s physical, social, emotional, and educational development. Thus, when corporal punishment occurs in schools, it interferes with a child’s right to education" (ACEI, 2015). 
 

The Association for Childhood Education International is committed to supporting children’s basic rights and ensuring their safety, health, and dignity, and is therefore a supporter of the Global Initiative to End Corporal Punishment. 

 

Reference:

http://www.acei.org

 

 

ESTABLISHING PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS & EXPANDING RESOURCES

Establishing Professional Contacts

For this week’s Blog assignment we were asked to contact at least two early childhood professionals outside the United States.  I was led to navigate through the UNICEF organization in hopes of receiving a reply back from an early childhood professional.  I was particularly interested in reaching out to  Pretoria, South Africa, Malaysia and Nigeria.  I initiated contact via emailing each of the organization’s contact email addresses.  In my email attempt, I explained who I am, the reason I was contacting them and thanking them for responding back to my email inquiry. Thus far, I am still waiting to hear back from someone.  If I don't hear back by Monday evening at the latest, then I will move on to the next step, which requires listening to archives of broadcasts offered by The World Forum. Hopefully , I'll hear back, as I am really eager and interested in making contact with an early childhood professional outside the country that can share his/her experience, expertise and knowledge in the field of early childhood relating to issues and trends.   

 

Expanding Resources 

On another note, my selection of choice for this assignment for “Expanding Resources” required that I take a look at the various websites provided and choose which organization I wanted to learn more about. I reviewed them all and have narrowed it down to two. I selected, Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) because I wanted to learn more about what this  organization is doing on an international level.  I also am interested in the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI).  My interest in this specific organization as an African American woman helps me to give back and help my culture better educate and prepare our children for their future. Both of these organizations seem fitting and have much to offer.