International Organizations and Communities of Practice
Working as an early childhood educator I would love to, ideally,
see all children receiving quality care and having a healthy and happy life.
For this reason the international organizations that I chose to review work
mostly with third world countries and how to help those children receive the
care they need.
1. Global Child Development Group- This
organization does research and scientific study that helps organizations like
UNICEF to know what needs to be done on the world to help children of all ages
with a bigger focus on those 5 and under. In order to work for this program I
think a person would have to have a strong understanding of child development
as well as scientific research. They would have to be able to live in
unfavorable conditions so they could go to the places they are researching and
truly understand the needs of the children and families in those areas.
2. Compassion International- This is an
organization that focuses not only on child education but developing the whole
child. This is a faith based Christian organization that not only wants to get
the children quality child education but wants to lead them to a well-developed
understanding of the Bible and how to live in this world. They want to help the
children to succeed, not only in the here and now, but also in the future. To
work with this organization a person would not only have to understand child
development and the needs of children but also under developed countries and
what the needs are in those places. This person would also have to have a
strong Christian base because the people who work for this organization
minister to children and try and help them understand Jesus and His love for
them. 3. International Step by Step Association-This is
more than an organization. This is a community of practice that connects child
development organizations and associations form across the globe. Their goal,
to help s many children as possible age’s birth thru 10 to receive quality
child care. This association is predominantly made up of organizations across
Europe and Southern Asia but does have more than 40 countries that are actively
involved in their association. To be a part of this CoP a person should have a
good understanding of child development (as is the case with most child development
organizations). They should also have an understanding that in different places
children may need different things and that education looks different in other
parts of the world. While we want all children to have quality education it is
important to remember that the needs are different in other parts of the world.
Like I stated in my previous blog……..I love my job and do
not want to change it. However, any of these organizations would be a great
place to reach children all over the world through work or even volunteering,
if time permits. Children are an investment in the future and we are only going
to get out of them what we have put in. It’s up to us to give them every chance
for success or no one will be to blame when they do not succeed except us. They
are innocent and deserve love, attention and education so they can have every
chance for a successful future.
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteThese are all organizations that I had no prior knowledge about so thank you for sharing. I truly commend those who are able to live in unfavorable conditions in order to do good for others. You are absolutely right that children are an investment for the future. It is our job as educators to provide developmentally appropriate, quality care, where each child feels valued and appreciated for who they are and where they are at developmentally. Thank you for sharing your passion and international organizations.