International Contact

My conversation partner is Sarah Collins who is a kindergarten teacher in Porirua New Zealand, kindergarten is children ages 3-5. She works in a Kindy (She said Kiwi’s are known for shortening many words) at Titahi Bay Kindergarten where the government pays for 20 hours a week for each child. There is a requirement that 80% of teachers are qualified, the Wellington Kindergarten (who she is employed by) is 100% teacher qualified. Because there have been recent cuts to ECE the Kindergartens are struggling. They ask for each family to give a substantial donation, but if a family can’t afford it they are still welcome. She gave me a great website with a video from the Wellington Kindergarten although this is not her specific Kindy. www.wn-kindergarten.org.nz

Sarah said they do not have serve any children in poverty at her Kindy, but there are others that do, she didn’t know much about the statistics, to be honest I didn’t know about my area until the recent assignment. She did say that many in poverty are Passifika families. These are Pacific nations people from the Pacific Islands, Samoan, Cook Island Fiji, Tokelau and Niue. The Wellington Kindergarten has begun a new initiative Etu Ao that is home-based care for Pasifika families. One Kindy offers lunches to help offset poverty; they will soon use that Kindy to house medical care and they have a van to bring families to the facility. 

I enjoy talking with her and hearing who she is through her written words for example; "That's not the Kindy's philosophy, just my prattle." I look forward to discussing more issues and learning. Below is a picture I got off the internet of her area. 

Global Fund for Children 2013 Winter Newsletter

This newsletter has a CEO Corner; it describes a grassroots program that was supported by the (GFC) recently. They are going through a financial appeal where people can learn about support opportunities; the latest grants are featured as well as a spotlight program that has been granted funds. There is an article on human trafficking and what GFC is proactively doing as well as projects around the globe.

This quarterly newsletter contains efforts for children by their own community members. In the audio interview Dr. Grace spoke of looking at your community and its divers situations to be proactive rather than reactive (Laureate, n.d.).  I read about a man, Daniel Tillias who opens his doors children in Cite Soleil a slum in Port-au-Prince Haiti, know for its poverty and gang violence. He combines sports, a community building and education as a refuge for children. With a small amount of money from GFC he was able to reconstruct two homes of children he serves, repair 15 tents where the local disabled community lives and repair the organizations community garden and more (Lindsey, 2013)

This was a man who grew up in this community, he knew the needs of the children and area and was able to accomplish so much. This is a way to support a community at its heart, by supporting its own members. This is an amazing story of being proactive, which brings home (literally) the idea that change and progress starts with you in your community, this is grass roots.    Here is the link https://www.globalfundforchildren.org/2013-winter-newsletter/

References:

 Laureate, (n.d.)"The Effects of Changing Demographics and Diversity on Children, Families, and the EC Field". Conversation with Dr. Cathy Grace (Director of Early Childhood Development, Children's Defense Fund).

Lindsey, K. (2013) 2013 Winter newsletter. Global Fund for Children. Retrieved from https://www.globalfundforchildren.org/2013-winter-newsletter/ 

Expanding Resources & Professional Contact

Expanding Resources:
I chose The Global Fund for Children because of their focus on grassroots programs. I also found some great book resources for my program of children's books, where some of the proceeds support The Global Fund. This organization strives for sustainability, through their Scout, Support and Strengthen strategy. They Scout developing areas that serve the most disenfranchised children, then they support local leaders to implement programs that will work under their specific circumstances and thirdly they support the leaders and community to network and become sustainable in their efforts.

Personally because of my environmental background, to create something that is sustainable is to truly make a difference. This new found website will be an amazing tool to gain perspectives and take me out of my comfort zone. When I hear of human trafficking where children are essentially in slavery, my heart breaks and I am very uncomfortable. But avoiding those issues does nothing in the way of making a difference and that is my mission in personal and professional life.

Professional Contact:
Establishing professional contacts has not been as easy as I hoped, but I love this connection and will continue working on making it happen. The list of contacts provided in the course work have come back as undeliverable, except the International Step by Step contacts. Unfortunately non of them have responded. I have a coworker from New Zealand, she gave me some contacts but unfortunately they are on summer holiday. I just realized that I have been communicating with a early childhood professional some time ago through my favorite website Children & Nature Network, I have just contacted her in Scotland and am looking forward to asking questions and creating a dialog about issues and trends. I also know a preschool teacher in my community from Bulgaria, this contact just popped into my head as I've been brain storming, better late than never.