Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

I did not receive any responses from either of my international contacts. Therefore, I moved onto the alternative assignment.


World Forum Radio
I listened to the World Forum podcast with Maysoun Chehab. She works with the Arab Resource Collective (ARC). As part of her work with ARC, she promotes early childhood awareness in the local communities. She also provides training for early childhood caretakers. Another passion for Maysoun Chehab is providing psychosocial interventions for children and their families after devastating events such as war. Because I was waiting to hear from my previous international contacts, I was not able to establish contact with Maysoun Chehab. However, if I were able to communicate with her I would be interested in finding out if early childhood programs in the Middle East are equitable. Can anyone attend regardless of income or gender?

Maysoun Chehab. Episode 4. Retrieved from
http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/current-work/world-forum-radio
Harvard’s Global Children’s Initiative
While exploring the Global Children’s Initiative by Harvard University, I learned that Latin America is only in the beginning stages of implementing high-quality early childhood programs. Chile will be the first country to implement Un Buen Cominezo which means “A Good Start” program that provides teachers with professional development, healthcare interventions for families, and socioemotional development.
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/ubc/

I liked the Global Children’s Initiative’s mission to bring awareness and change to the early childhood field by supplying resources, programs, and support around the world. I think what I’m learning this week about early childhood programs around the globe is that people are becoming aware. They are aware that the early years are an important time for development (physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively). Their awareness is leading to social change through policies and programs that promote early learning opportunities. But we have a long way to go in bringing equity and excellence to all children around the world!