Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Global Children's Initiative

This week I chose to review and research the Global Children's Initiative website:
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/

The initiative should indeed be a global one, which involves high-power people all over the world recognizing the importance of early childhood programs and development.  Not only does this help the well-being of all people in different countries, but it is economically profitable to educate and ensure healthy development for all children.  This leads back to the importance of varied programs and practices depending on cultural diversity, economics, and environmental surroundings.

Much of the focus of the website was on children in critical conditions.  This is something that tore at my heartstrings.  It is so painful to hear of children suffering, and people in general suffering.  This is just one more reason to tackle the problem at an early age, rather than later when conditions and situations are so dire that they can not be reversed.  Health issues are at the heart of many economic problems.  This leads to high child mortality rates and is devastating to many communities future productivity.

One of the most interesting parts of the website was an article about implementation in Brazil.  http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/applying_the_science_of_early_childhood_in_brazi/  Seeing the effects that the research in the United States has on other parts of the world is not only interesting, but motivating.  We can take our own experiences and help another community in places that are geographically so diverse.  One of the most essential parts of integration of the Global Children's Initiative was training early childhood professionals to be leaders and coordinate this movement.  It requires multiple people working together to create and facilitate an initiative to help all children of Brazil.

I have signed up for the newsletter and look forward to reading more about expansion and learning more about this particular initiative.




Zambian Early Childhood Development Project

Harvard University. (2014). Center on the developing child. Global children's initiative. Retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/activities/global_initiative/


4 comments:

  1. Hi! Caroline, I also read the article about Global Children's Initiative in Brazil and found it very interesting and rewarding. it is great to know that people are taking early childhood education seriously all over the world. Even in my country, Nepal, early childhood education is getting more attention and people are understanding the importance of it.

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  2. I also read the article about Brazil and think this country is working hard to support their children. When you were on the site, did you get a chance to view the sub-Saharan works of assessing and aiding the children of Zambia? I find the research and work that has gone into this project very informative and interesting.

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  4. Hi Caroline, Thank you for sharing this resource! I to believe that these initiatives should be global and I also agree with you when you say that health should be everyone's main concern. A healthy individual will be more effective in the world than those who are mentally, physically, and emotionally distraught.

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