Sharing Web Resources

Website: www.acei.org
Organization: Association for Childhood Education International

This organization's vision is relevant to my current professional development.  The vision statement says that every child in every nation will have access to quality education.  This education will prepare children to become responsible and engaged citizens and ready them for life in a changing world.  I also find myself repeatedly looking at the section called Hot Topics in Education.  This section has a variety of articles regarding early childhood education. 

I have gained some new insights with two specific sections of this website.  First, the section containing information on the Global Education First Initiative.  This was created by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.  The focus is to put every child in school and improve the quality of learning and foster global citizenship.  The second was the section on Education Diplomacy.  This is an emerging concept that looks for solutions regarding challenges in education.  They realize that education, development, and well-being of children have profound impact on social and economic trajectory of all nations.

ACEI does know the importance of economists, neuroscientists, and politicians supporting the field of early childhood education. This is not only evident by the numerous articles on this site, but by the list of groups that participate in this organization.  This organization has involvement from educators from all over the world, the UN, the Harvard Center of the Developing Child, Offod Centre for Child Studies, Riken Brain Science Institute, and Global Policy Development to mention a few.  The goal of this organization is to provide education and well-being to children worldwide.  The hope is the more support they get the more they will advance in accomplishing this goal.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts - Part 1

Background: I recently heard of an organization called Be Like Brit.  Be Like Brit was created by Britney Gengel's family.  Britney was a fellow Westfield State Alum.  She to Haiti to do some missionary work in an orphanage.  When she arrived, Britney spent a full day at the orphanage and in a text to her parents wrote, "They love us so much and everyone is so happy.  They love what they have and they work so hard to get nowhere, yet they are all so appreciative.  I want to move here and start an orphanage myself."  The next day Haiti was hit by the earthquake.  It took Britney's family 33 days to recover her body.  In memory of Britney, her family started the organization Be Like Brit and built the orphanage she dreamed of.

I have been following the blog of and have written to Jon Lamare, the director of the orphanage.  Jon is originally from Plattsburg, NY and has a Master of Social Work from Tulane University.  The mission of the organization and the orphanage is to serve the children of Haiti by establishing a safe, nurturing and sustainable orphanage in an environment where they grow, learn, and thrive.

I have learned that this orphanage is for all of the children of Haiti.  The challenge currently is that they only have space for 33 children at once.  I asked if all of the children were there because their families became deceased in the natural disasters.  I was told that some families were deceased.  However, because of the tremendous amount of poverty in Haiti, some children are being dropped off at the front gates because their families cannot afford to keep them.  Sanitation is extremely poor.  They cannot afford to feed, cloth, get them proper medical treatment, and some are living in tents.  For example, there is a little boy who was living with his mother and grandmother.  The mother was going to Port-O-Prince.  She never returned.  The grandmother was forced to give this little boy up because she could not take care of him.  The children of the orphanage attend the Mission of Hope School.  This school is up the road and the orphanage must pay for each child to attend.

During the next few weeks I hope to learn more about the schooling for these children.

Hearing the stories of poverty in Haiti saddens me.  It immediately made me want to get involved and advocate for these children.  I hope that with the nurturing they get from the orphanage and education, they will help Haiti start to decrease the poverty level.  It is so important to learn about the community, locally or globally.  Teachers need to make the commitment not only to serve as a resource and provide assistance, but educate others about poverty and what needs to be done to start to erase it.

Sharing Web Resources

Sharing Web Resources

 

 

 

The organization that I selected to learn about was the Association for Childhood Education International (http://acei.org/).  This organization is dedicated to ensuring that children around the world are protected, supported, and educated by using methods that let them reach their full potential.  This includes being educated in environments of fairness where there is freedom from bias or favoritism and where access to, and participation in, educational experiences are the cornerstone of home, school, and community.

 

 

One issue that this organization is focused on is called Love me, teach me.  The objectives are to promote the needs and rights of children everywhere.  There are four foundations that is included in this.

 

1.  See Me - Every child has the right to a name and nationality.  All sectors - social, political, and economic must work to guarantee all children are visible members of their society regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, ability, family status, or national origin.

 

2.  Hear Me - Children should be provided opportunities to participate by voicing opinions or by being provided with access to services that may be needed.  Participation is how children learn about the world around them. If this is denied, it is difficult to ensure that the other rights will be protected and promoted.

 

3.  Love Me - The child's right to security, stability, and protection.  Children should be loved.  Not only parents, but extended family and others can make positive contributions to security and protection of children.  This will cultivate and assist with the children's overall physical, emotional, social, moral, and spiritual development.

 

4.  Teach Me - Every child has the right to an education. Efforts must be made by everyone to make sure education supports development of the whole child from birth to adolescence.  It should be culturally appropriate, encourage dignity and respect for children, encourage exploration and be designed to support all children, regardless of their abilities.  Education should allow children access to quality materials and experiences that will help each child reach their full potential.

 

I learned a lot this week.  Not only did I learn what this organization's mission and vision were, but I also learned how they support children and teachers.  Please take the time to check out this website.  There is a lot of fabulous information, and membership is reasonable!

 

 



Getting Ready - Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

Part One

I have emailed two people in the hopes of learning more about early childhood education in Uganda (kampala@unicef.org) and Italy (florence@unicef.org). I have not heard back from either of them yet.  I have also been in contact with an old college friend from Massachusetts.  She sponsors a young child in a school in Haiti.  She recently has joined an organization called Britsionary and will be making a trip to Haiti next year.  It is  my hope that she will be able to put me in touch with the administrator in Haiti.

Part Two 
I have decided to research the Association for Childhood Education International over the next 8 weeks.  I felt very strongly about their mission and vision statements.  If you have a chance, take a look at this great site.  http://acei.org