Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

            I have enjoyed listening to the Podcast learning about Early Childhood around the world. This experience has given me new insights of how to adjust my teaching styles and also adjust the learning environment in my center to meet the needs of each child. I had not spoken to anyone from the podcast but I have enjoyed listening to them express their views about Early Childhood in their areas across the globe.

            In the podcast that I listened to today was interviewing Maysoun Chehab. She is an activist and Director of an Early Childhood Program. This program is located in the Arab Resource Collector. This building is where predicates and policy makers work. Their children attend the school that she directs. One of her major objectives is to raise awareness of children rights. Mrs. Chehab also actively trains early educators to teach effectively in the classroom. In 2005 she produced resources that helped teachers to become educated on early childhood policies. In the area where she works there are wars that go on in the outer villages. She implemented the social conference to help aid children, parents, and educators that were affected in the war. In this conference she trained parents and teachers about emotional social reactions that children deal with after a strategic event in their living environment (the local war).

            I also visited the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. In 2006 this center was founded.  There center is committed to:

1.      Building a unified science of health, learning, and behavior.

2.      Leading the design, implementation and evaluation of innovative practice models.

3.       Catalyzing the implementation of effective science- based public policies.

4.      Preparing future and current leaders to build and leverage knowledge.

Reference:

Global Children’s Initiative” website (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/)

World Forum Foundation Radio. Includes links to podcasts of conversations with early childhood professionals.

http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/radio.php

Association for Childhood Educational International (www.acei.org)

Association for Childhood Educational International (www.acei.org)

Since class has started I have enjoyed gaining new information about ACEI. This organization has so many attributes. Also on their website it has so many sectors that give so much vital information. One of my favorite sections that are relevant to my profession as a daycare provider was the Global Gateway. In this section you can explore childhood education, preschool, and primary school around the world. There are six tabs that are listed within this section which list six places are: Africa; Asia and the Pacific; Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean; Middle East; and North America. One article that I enjoyed reading was entitled “Fostering Social Competence”. This article talked about different ways to promote team work in the classroom. In this article the teacher conducted a study that would help foster social competence. At the end of the study students learned how to work together without disruptive behavior. Some affiliations that contribute to ACEI are: NCATE; World Forum Alliance; and Global Campaign for Education. One major thing that I learned from this website is the “One Child per Family Policy” in China. This policy causes children to be abandoned on these streets. This issue in growing and causing many children to become orphans, especially the ones with disabilities. The Chinese government is working toward providing medical care, rehabilitation, and education to more than 65 million people with disabilities. This website keeps me updated on important information about Early Childhood programs and issues globally.

Getting to Know My International Partner- Part One

Getting to Know My International Partners- Part 1

While reading about Mongolia the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre website I was amazed and sadden at the same time. Mongolia is located in North-East Asia bordering China. In 1990 Mongolia transitioned from socialistic to multi-party democratic state. This transition caused local families to be hit hard. Unemployment rose and social service benefits were cut causing families to struggle. Despite a positive increase in the macro-economy stability and growth, many Mongolians did not see or reap the benefits. There was a gap that was created causing some people to benefit from the changes and also others to not see the benefits. This state was once growing and equally striving.

In another part of this website there are case studies that were conducted with children that live in the place. These children, because of the transition, were forced to work and also quit school to help take care of their families. Some of their remarks in this study caused me to really appreciate God’s hand on my life. One of the children’s responsibilities was to collect dung to burn at home for eat. Another one fetches water and collects firewood. All these children do not attend school because of financial lack. We should be glad as Americans to have a public school system that gives everyone a chance to go to school. One of the ways the children spend their money is to give it to his mother who is a single parent another sends it on necessities for his home. One thing that caught my attention was one child stated that when they were in school they had no electricity and to watch they could not see to do their homework. The little girl said that she wanted to go to school but she could not afford the materials needed for class. These children represent a lot of children around the world. The Childhood Poverty Research Policy Centre has formed different ways to deal with this issue to change education around the world.

Reference:

Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre (CHIP). (n.d.). Knowledge for tackling childhood poverty. Retrieved from http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/

Associationn for Childhood education International

Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI)

www.acei.org

ACEI is an organization whose mission is to promote and support the development of children by promoting optimal education for children from birth to early adolescence. Also ACEI strives to influence professional growth of educators. Their vision is: Every child in every nation will have access to a quality education. This education will prepare children to become responsible and engaged citizens and ready them for life in a changing world. This vision is so important to me because some many times we are only concerned about the school we teach in or the community we live in. If you don’t see these people you are not concerned. This organization is addressing the issues of all schools globally and is striving to have all children on one accord. This prepares each child to be able to grow academically and socially. One of the main issues discussed on this website was peace and social development in relation to education. They discussed the importance of education around the world. In the article “Education is key to peace and social development” they stated that “1.5 billion people live in fragile and conflict-affected states” (Vojvoda, 2012, p.1). When most children are in schools in these communities it causes them to avoid the conflict around them in result creating peace.

Reference

Vojvoda, R. (2012). Education is key to peace and social development. http://www.educaitonaltransition.org/

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

I am so excited about forming these alliances with professionals in the Early Childhood across the globe. I have initiated alliance with two professionals in Africa. One of the alliances I have initiated was with Mr. Eric Atmore. He is a part of the OMEP South African National Committee. This is a non-profit organization concerned with all aspects of early childhood education and care. Also they defend and promote the rights of the child to education and care worldwide. This committee is located in Clarinch, South Africa. The second alliance I have initiated is with Mrs. Bimbo Are. She is a part of the Niger Delta Academic Foundation. This foundation is comprised of students and professionals that advocate for all children to have academic success and to promote a healthy development among early childhood programs. I have initiated this alliance by emailing both of these people and I am awaiting a response. I have found an organization named “Association for Childhood Education International”. This association’s mission is to promote and support the optimal education and development of children worldwide and also to influence the professional growth of educators. There website is www.acei.org. I am interested in finding out more information of what they do and also to see if I could get information that I could apply to my center. It is so important to establish relationships that you can both pour out and also receive which both benefits all.