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The Early Childhood Development Kit A Treasure Box of Activities. ECD-in-Emergencies Training, New York, 2-5 August 2011. An Overview. ECD-in-Emergencies Training, New York, 2-5 A ugust 2011. Outline. ECD in emergencies: Existing challenges
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The Early Childhood Development Kit A Treasure Box of Activities ECD-in-Emergencies Training, New York, 2-5August 2011 An Overview ECD-in-Emergencies Training, New York, 2-5 August 2011
Outline • ECD in emergencies: Existing challenges • Why an ECD kit? How did the ECD kit initiative start? • The ECD Kit Basics • What is in the ECD kit? Exploring what is ‘inside the box’ • Where is the ECD kit being used? • Views from the field • Conclusions/Recommendations
ECD in emergencies: Existing challenges • Today’s global crises have displaced an estimated 50 million people, of whom over 40% are children (highest IDP’s in Sudan 5 million) • In 2010 UNICEF responded to at least 290 humanitarian situations in 98 countries
ECD in emergencies: Existing challenges • Worldwide, experts predict at least 200 million children under 5 will fail to reach their full potential in cognitive and socio-emotional development because of malnutrition, iodine and iron deficiencies and inadequate stimulation during the first five years of their lives
ECD in emergencies: Existing challenges • Emergencies pose a set of challenges for young children living in difficult situations. • They are at increased risk of • Loss of parents/separation from primary caregivers, • Sexual and gender-biased violence, • Physical harm, • Long-term negative emotional and psychological effects
Why an ECD kit? • It was created to strengthen the holistic response for young children ages 0-6 caught in conflict or emergency situations. • The kit is complementary to main sector programme interventions (hygiene and sanitation, health and nutrition, protection and education)
Specific Objectives • Establish positive and supportive adult-child interactions • Create a safe and secure play and learning environment • Foster self-esteem and confidence • Develop critical and early learning and development skills • Promote interaction between young children of the same or different ages
The use of learning tools in the ECD Kits helps children to develop • Increased hand eye coordination and the ability to handle tools and materials effectively; • Use of symbols, pictures, familiar letters and words to communicate meaning; • An understanding of different attributes of objects such as colour, size, weight, texture; • The skill to be able to match, sequence and classify objects; • Understanding of pattern seeking and pattern making, using different attributes of objects; and • Basic understanding of quantity, counting, and of simple number operations.
How did the ECD kit initiative start? • In 2004, IECD Unit conducted a needs assessment survey in over 30 countries facing an emergency: • Most of the countries (83%) expressed the need for a ECD Kit to help establish play and learning activities for young children and their caregivers; • Kits could be used in Child Friendly Spaces (CFS), child care centres, baby clinics in IDP/refugee camps; • Caregivers, preschool teachers, NGO workers would need to be trained to safely and effectively implement the ECD Kit
How did the ECD kit initiative start? • Based on survey results, ECD Kit was developed in collaboration with Education, Child Protection, WASH and Supply Division; • Piloted in 2006 in seven countries (Chad, Liberia, Congo Brazzaville, Jamaica, Guyana, Maldives, and Iraq); • Outcomes and recommendations from the pilot informed adjustments to the materials included in the Kit • Additional inputs from ECD and emergency specialists demonstrated that training and guidelines are essential for safe and effective implementation of the Kit • ECD Kit was finalized and launched in July 2009 in Geneva
The ECD Kit: Basic Facts • Targets 0-6 year olds • Can accommodate up to 50 young children • Contains 36 different materials ( activities with materials and activities without materials) for learning and play including: • puzzles and games; counting circle and boxes to stack and sort; board books and puppets; art supplies; soap and collapsable water cans for promoting hygiene. • Includes easy to use Activity Guide on how to use each item based on children’s age and interest
The ECD Kit: Basic Facts • The Activity Guides are now available on-line in 5 languages (E/F/S/P/R) at http://www.unicef.org/supply/index_52666.html • The kits are available to order through UNICEF Supply Division • Costs US $350 plus shipping and weighs 34 kgs
ECD Kits: An investment to manage Each kit costs USD 350 Each kit caters for 40-50 children Scenario: 22,000 kits, cost = 7, 700,000.00 USD Total no. children = 1,100,000.00 It is critical to ensure coordinators/facilitators are adequately trained so that such significant investment achieves its objectives.
ECD Kit Supportive Materials • Activity Guide: Easy to use activity cards based on materials in the kit as well as activities without materials; Targeting different age groups (babies, 1-3, 4-6); Primary user: caregivers; Available in 5 languages; Produced in Copenhagen and inserted in the ECD Kit • Coordinator’s Guide: Designed to support overall coordination of ECD kit programme implementation at country level; Covers range of topics: situation analysis and programme design, planning and implementation, operations and management, monitoring and evaluation; Available on-line
ECD Kit Supportive Materials • Facilitator’s Guide: Designed for trainers working with early childhood care providers to use the ECD Kit; Activity based and participatory; Covers range of topics: child development, dealing with stress, making toys using local materials; Available on-line
Voices from the field “I love to come to school and play with the toys given to us from the ECD Kit. I have learnt the names of colours, shapes and learnt to put things in the form of a chain. At home I make the same shapes using mud, and my mother feels happy. We enjoy it. We love our teacher also.” – KhalidaHabib ECE student at GPS Qadirabad, Rajanpur, Pakistan
Group Work • Small Group Activity – Exploring the Materials • Small Group Activity – Understanding the Activity Sheets • Small Group Work – Designing Activities