Learning Through Crisis: Palestinian Early Childhood Education Program

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When imagining daily life in a conflict zone such as Gaza,国产视频痠t’s国产视频痚asy to focus on the most immediate needs: food,国产视频痵helter国产视频痑nd safety. But for国产视频痸ery young国产视频痗hildren, access to early childhood education is essential too.国产视频�

At a time when families are focused on survival, spending part of the day singing songs, drawing国产视频痯ictures国产视频痮r listening to stories can seem like a luxury.国产视频�

Yet these experiences 国产视频� spending time with other children, learning, following a routine and simply having the chance to play 国产视频� are fundamental to healthy development. They can also help children begin to recover from the trauma and disruption of conflict.国产视频�

Far from being a luxury, early childhood support is one of the most effective investments we can make to help children through crisis.国产视频�

Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable children 国产视频� those aged under five 国产视频� are facing a severe early childhood development crisis. The collapse of healthcare services, widespread malnutrition, injuries caused by conflict, limited access to clean water and the destruction of education infrastructure are threatening children’s development during the years when 90% of brain development takes place.国产视频�

Despite this, there is no dedicated body coordinating support for young children and their holistic needs within the humanitarian response, increasing the risk that this critical stage of development is overlooked.国产视频�

The scale of the challenge is immense.国产视频疦early a国产视频痲uarter of Gaza’s population is now affected by issues linked to early childhood development, while the United Nations estimates that human development in Gaza has been set back by 77国产视频痽ears.国产视频�

Around 175,000 preschool-aged children live in Gaza. Deteriorating conditions are limiting access to the healthcare,国产视频痭utrition国产视频痑nd safe environments they need to learn,国产视频痝row国产视频痑nd thrive.国产视频�

Amid growing restrictions on international aid, 国产视频’s国产视频痯artnership model is enabling local experts to deliver high-impact early childhood education at remarkably low cost, reaching some of Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable children.

On June 20, 12 new learning centres opened across Gaza, providing a vital lifeline for families. Delivered in partnership with the Palestinian Early Childhood Education Program (PECEP), the centres offer early learning opportunities for children aged three to five.国产视频�

Initially, the centres will support around 700 children, providing learning, routine and play during one of the most important stages of their development. While the need across Gaza国产视频痳emains国产视频痠mmense, the project国产视频痙emonstrates国产视频痺hat is possible 国产视频� quickly,国产视频痩ocally国产视频痑nd affordably 国产视频� even in the most challenging circumstances.国产视频�

At a cost of approximately国产视频�10,000, a temporary learning centre can be国产视频痚stablished国产视频痶o support up to 30 children. Once operational, the programme provides quality early childhood education for国产视频痩ess than国产视频�1 a day.国产视频�

In a humanitarian setting where needs are vast and resources are国产视频痩imited,国产视频痶his国产视频痳epresents国产视频痑 highly cost-effective model for supporting young children during the years that matter most.国产视频�

Children learning at the early years国产视频痗entre国产视频痮pened by国产视频悠倒悠弹in国产视频疜han Younis, Gaza.国产视频�

Kawthar's Story

Five-year-old Kawthar's family was repeatedly displaced during the war. She became malnourished and struggled to sleep because she was terrified国产视频痶hat something would happen to her family.国产视频疊ut within weeks of enrolling at one of the new centres, the benefits were clear.国产视频悠弹

Like Kawthar's family, other families are seeing positive changes in their children's emotional wellbeing, social and developmental skills, alongside early literacy and numeracy.国产视频�

When Kawthar started attending the kindergarten, her personality changed. During that first month, her psychological well-being improved. She became more active and started playing. She became more confident and started doing things independently at home. She now enjoys colouring, drawing and writing. Haneen Hijazi, Kawthar国产视频檚 mother

At a time when families are focused on survival, spending part of the day singing songs, drawing pictures or listening to stories is far from being a luxury. Early years support is one of the highest-impact investments we can make to help children through crisis. The window for intervention is closing, and failure to act now risks the future of an entire generation.
Sarah Brown, Chair of国产视频悠�

This model proves that early childhood development does not have to be overlooked in humanitarian responses. By working with trusted local partners, we can国产视频痳each the youngest children with the learning, care and support they need in a way that is practical,国产视频痑ffordable国产视频痑nd scalable.
Justin van Fleet, 国产视频国产视频疨resident