On the Harvard University's Global Children's Initiative website there was some great information. On the main page I liked that they talked about if a person is poor or rich it is about educating the high level decision makers. Such an important point, it is important that we do not exclude anyone in whom you share valuable information with. You cannot assume what you think people know about the early childhood field.
In reading Studying the Effects of Global Adversity, Two Generations at a Time, they had some valuable information about studying children when they are young can give us a better insight about their future. Children that were soldiers in Sierra Leone were contacted when they were young adults. They wanted to see the effects of war, and how it impacted their relationships and children of their own. Theresa Betancourt is now able to study the mental health issues and how it effects these children as adults, and is able to research how to work with it when children are in these situations and not have to wait till later in life.
Another article that I read was Zambian Early Childhood Development Project. Previously there was not a great way to track children's development, but now they have created the first comprehensive assessment tool in Zambia. With this new assessment tool they hope to concentrate on developmental areas that need support, and set up intervention strategies for the future.
It is great to see operations that are focusing on situations that have happened to children, and learning how they can help future generations in similar situations. This is a big step forward for Zambia to actually start finding out how the children's environment affects their growth and development. This information can be used in many countries due to similar situations.
I noticed that we chose to read the same articles. I think that it is wonderful that Zambie now has an assessment tool that will better help them to asses learning in the future generations. Do you think other countries in this areas will adapt to their idea?
ReplyDeleteI really hope that they do Chawnda! I think it will lead to positive outcomes for education in the future.
ReplyDeleteI know that my friend taught in Ghana working young children. She fell in love with the children and people over there. She even later got married and is expecting their first child, but got sent home because she contracted malaria and several other diseases that were unsafe for her and the baby. The sad thing is that her husband can't join her. It'll be a couple of months before he will see them. It's a long process to get a visa for him. I've been wanting to ask her more about how the education system is over there.
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