Helping to build a brighter future for Palestinian preschoolers

Only one-third of all Palestinian four and five-year-olds in the West Bank and Gaza are enrolled in preschool –聽despite overwhelming evidence that what children learn in childhood impacts on the rest of their lives.

As many as聽38% of children聽in Gaza are stunted (when children are not getting the necessary nutrition or stimulation to grow properly) and over 50% of preschool-aged children聽are anaemic.

Children in the State of聽Palestine have been living with conflict for years. Trauma in their early years not only affects how they develop but ultimately how their countries flourish.

One organisation –聽American Near East Refugee Aid聽(ANERA) – is helping to rebuild a future for young children in Palestine and Lebanon. One brick at a time.

ANER础听addresses the development and humanitarian needs of Palestinians and other communities in Palestine and Lebanon.

Sulieman Mleahat is聽ANERA国产视频檚 director for early childhood development based in Ramallah, in the central West Bank, six miles north of Jerusalem. He聽spoke to 国产视频 about what the organisation is doing for children.

ANERA is investing in upgrading preschools, training teachers, producing resources聽and addressing wider issues by leading the way in developing a national early childhood development strategy and curricula in the West Bank and Gaza.聽

Mleahat said: 国产视频淲e are focusing on children in preschools because most of the preschools are not fit for purpose.聽

“We go in, we renovate, we equip, we rebuild. We have upgraded and built 160 kindergartens in the West Bank and Gaza. We国产视频檙e just about to build 10 new ones.”

国产视频’s #5for5 campaign is urging聽countries to do likewise and聽invest in early childhood development.聽

90% of brain development happens before the age of five and there are five key areas of care for young children – 聽nutrition, health, learning, play and protection.

Mleahat explained how ANERA’s programmes work.

国产视频淥ur first programme pillar is that the preschool environment has to be safe and stimulating for children and we国产视频檝e done that.聽

“Our second pillar is that we provide training and mentorship for preschool teacher. We国产视频檙e trained 600 teachers in six years.

国产视频淥ur third pillar is our work with parents. We国产视频檝e supported 20,000 parents through a positive parenting programme –聽we call it ECD in the community.聽

“We have reading campaigns to make homes become learning environments and they take literacy kits home.国产视频�

Mleahat 国产视频� who has been working in early childhood聽development programmes for 17 years – recently returned from an ECD conference held聽in Dubai by UNICEF and the philanthropic organisation聽Dubai Cares.

He said: 国产视频淚t has been proved that the early years are the most sensitive period in anyone国产视频檚 life. Conception to three. The first 1000 days are crucial.聽

“This is when children grow the most –聽physically and emotionally.

国产视频淭he science is concrete. The first 1000 days are when聽children need nutrition, protection and stimulation.聽

“But, despite these facts, there are still 250 million children in the world who will never reach their full potential because they do not have the basics – proper nutrition, stimulation and safety.

国产视频淎nd while there is a lot of interest in the facts and the science, paradoxically this has not been reflected in the donor agenda.聽

“We国产视频檙e still struggling to convince donors that preschool years are important and that it impacts on children国产视频檚 futures.国产视频�

The region is known for its many years of devastating conflict,聽which not only causes聽physical deprivation but trauma for the most vulnerable.

There is evidence that bringing in programmes for children in conflict is very important and has a great affect.聽

础听国产视频 report last year聽examined the effect of emergencies such as wars and natural disasters can have on very young children.

It called for “safe spaces” in emergencies – places where babies, young children and their caregivers can get support to counter the negative impacts of crisis situations on children’s growth and development.

Mleahat said:聽国产视频淓CD is more valued and more effective in very poor environments, which is all the more reason that we should be investing ECD, we国产视频檙e burdening children at a very young age if we don国产视频檛 provide tools for coping.

国产视频淚n the absence of peace, we have to support parents and children. We provide a safe space, a stimulating space for children to learn and develop away from the home and to realise their rights.聽

“It国产视频檚 doubly difficult. It can be very difficult in this region but still there is not 聽adequate investment from major donors.国产视频澛�

ANERA’s聽policy on ECD聽is now taking a three-pronged approach.

Mleahat explained: 国产视频淔irstly, we contact parents, making sure there is proper stimulation, good nutrition and of course protection at home.聽

“The second is to get local and national governments to properly understand the importance of ECD and recognise this by investing in it and children.聽

“The third is to do the same with world governments, again getting them to realise that without proper ECD care, the future of their children will be affected.国产视频�