Getting to Know International Contacts-Part 1
Eric Atmore is an Associate Professor at The National Early Childhood Development Alliance in Africa and is the only response I received who is willing to communicate with me. He was on summer break until January 19th, but he did send me a comprehensive research report titled "Challenges Facing the Early Childhood Development Sector in South Africa" which he was the main researcher.
This paper covers issues from how important early childhood development is to the African children, teacher qualifications, ratios for teacher/children, nutrition, and government funding. According to Atmore, 2012, South Africa is home to 95,000 children living in child-headed households. In rural communities, such as Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and North West and Mpumalanga, sixty percent of children live in poverty. These children are more at risk than others of poor to services, inconsistent income and poor living circumstances. Children living in poverty in South Africa are vulnerable, often discriminated against, and isolated.
In South Africa, the majority of children from the poor communities do not have access to early childhood education programs because families cannot pay the fees and the distance to the programs are too far. In 1995, the the government signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child which states that all children have the right to have the basic learning materials and resources, funding, security, proper toileting amenities, and electricity. Atmore, 2012, also stated that due to the extraordinarily high prevalence of poverty in South Africa, hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity are significant challenges facing children in communities across the country. Some interventions in nutrition are offered by many different providers such as NPOs and private companies. Food gardens and training on nutrition and agricultural development is also being used.
I researched the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre's website. There are many interesting links and articles that I explored. I read two articles on how important it is to break the poverty cycle especially in early childhood. According to Harper, 2004, there is clearly a crisis in childhood poverty of staggering proportions which has significant and long-term implications. It is the same for any young child in any country who lives in poverty; his health, education cognitive and physical skills, and emotional and social development are in danger.
Within this website, I researched the Campaign Against Child Poverty in Canada (CACP). Canada is concerned about the hazards to the future educational, social, physical development and employment success of the children who are presently living in poor families. The CACP believes that the public should be informed about the facts and the implications of children in poverty. "15.6 % of all children in Canada live below the poverty line" (Campaign Against Child Poverty, 2014, p. 1).
Most interventions or solutions to eliminate poverty lies in early childhood education. Early childhood education must be effective, accessible, and equitable and countries must invest in it. Even poor countries can develop such systems. According to Hill, Harper, and Marcus, 2004, Mongolia, one of the world's poorest countries has a valued kindergarten system. Resources are very important for the poor, but equitable access to these resources is crucial.
Atmore, E. (2012). Challenges facing early childhood development sector in South Africa.
National Development Agency. Retrieved from, http://cecd@iafrica.com
Harper, C. (2004). Breaking poverty cycles-the importance of action in childhood.
Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre. Retrieved from,
http://www.childhoodpoverty.com
Hill, F., Harper, C., & Marcus, R. (2004). Early childhood care and development-
an innoculation against poverty or a daycare refuge for the very poor.
Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre. Retrieved from,
http://www.childhoodpoverty.com
