The center on the developing child, at Harvard University has a
global children's initiative which is described on their website (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/). There are two
things that I noticed immediately, upon reading through the webpage, and they are that most of their projects
were targeting early childhood, and that child survival was a key issue.
In our study of issues and trends in the
United States, something as basic as survival is not a concern anymore for
children born and raised in America. This insight is quite an eye opener; to realize
that it remains a concern in other parts of the world. So when we are striving
for excellence or equity in the care for children in their early years, their
survival often takes precedence in a global scenario.
The global initiatives by Harvard
University address three issues: early childhood development, child mental
health and children in crisis and conflict situations. Children in conflict suffer tremendous
consequences, and survival becomes a priority but development, mental health,
education and long term effects cannot be ignored either. Two studies are being
conducted by a Harvard faculty which study these concerns long term: Adults who
were child soldiers in Sierra Leone, and children raised with HIV positive
parents in Rwanda. Insight on these realities for children who grow up in
conflict or toxic stress, is again an eye opener of the issues globally
compared to the USA.
It does not take long to realize that the
issues globally are quite varied, and can be very different from the issues in
America. In Zambia, the Harvard initiative is studying the impact of an anti-
malaria effort, on child development. Another insight on how children in
developed countries don't need to worry about such obstacles to their
development, but this mosquito transmitted disease can be detrimental in other
parts of the world.
Since I had not heard back from my international
contacts, I started to study this initiative, as well as the article in the
journal Current Issues in Comparative Education, Volume 11.
I have learnt that early childhood care and education was the topic of
discussion in the 2008-2009 edition of the online journal, and globally we find
issues that are similar to the USA, like teacher training, but many issues that
are quite different, such as survival.
I think that is an interesting point you make that some countries first have to focus on the survival of children and then have to worry about educating young children. So many children in the world face so many adversities health wise as well as having enough food to eat. I think in those countries survival and good health need to be the first focus.
ReplyDeleteFantastic overview. This reminds me of the Ebola virus. There is so much to be done. I would however, like to see what some of the great things are that have been done. I think that having that space for celebration is good for the moral of the contributers as well as the community being helped.
ReplyDelete