ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

• Establish/rebuild orphanages and day care centers      
• At present, contributing money is best
• Collecting early childhood learning materials to send to centers in Haiti   
• Twinning — partnering with an early childhood program in Haiti to exchange communication and to provide support

We are researching to see how best to implement these options, especially those focusing on more long-term support when all the press moves on to the next story.  Here are some ideas so far:

Caroline Hudicourt, World Forum National Representative from Haiti, sent this message:

"I had two meetings in the past two days with heads of educational organizations.  We came to the conclusion that the best way to help children immediately would be to set up early childhood centers in tents around the tent cities where most of Port-au-Prince's population lives right now to give children a place dedicated to them where they would play, express themselves, and learn.  We plan to meet members of the UNICEF staff to discuss this idea.  I've just joined an organisation that gathers most of the association of school directors and other institutions involved in the non-public sector.  They all agree with this idea.  We have also heard in the news that the wife of the president has a plan to put educational opportunities with an emphasis on art in the tent cities.  It will have to be in tents.  Presently in Haiti most people are very fearful of getting into concrete buildings and the great majority of the population in the Port-au-Prince area sleeps in tents even if their houses are OK."

Ms. Hudicourt will be reporting to us as plans develop as to what support will be needed from the early childhood community worldwide.  If you want to be put on a list to be notified on developments with this project, contact us at [email protected].

Phyllis Kalifeh from the Children's Forum in Florida shared this request from Project K.I.D.:

"I would ask you to consider helping us to put together 25 PlayCare Kits for Haiti with the goal of doing so in 25 days!  PlayCare provides temporary respite and emergency child care relief for children and their families in the areas impacted by disaster recognizing that children need an opportunity to be children.  This is particularly important, as families must go to various locations to get food, water, and medical care.  PlayCare provides safe, nurturing child care to allow families to begin putting their lives back together post trauma.  Sites are set up (tents, fencing, tables, toys, materials, food, water, first aid, etc.) in areas where families most need help.  Trained volunteers manage the sites and also help to link families to the other aid resources available.  We have folks on the ground and they're just waiting for these PlayCare Kits to arrive.  Please help us to help our partners, Project K.I.D.  For more information on Project K.I.D., visit their website at: www.project-kid.org.

World Forum Alliance member, Save the Children, is doing this work:

More than three weeks after the catastrophic 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, Save the Children is distributing rice to children and families in partnership with the World Food Program.  Latest Field Report Highlights:

• 172,751 beneficiaries have been reached to date.
• Save the Children is responsible for providing health care in 32 camps/locations.  
• 17 Child Friendly Spaces were established in Jacmel and Port-au-Prince, providing activities for over 10,400 children.

• Mapping and assessing early childhood needs on the ground in Haiti 
• Identifying and involving key national and international partners for ECCD planning and relief and revitalization services
• Developing shared inter-agency strategies for developing key ECCD activities and services;
• Ensuring that a mosaic of funding support for ECCD initiatives is developed and directed effectively to appropriate, feasible activities
• Linking recovery work with ongoing activities to support medium-term ECCD policy planning, which is already at an advanced stage of preparation in Haiti

• Beginnings Workshops Book #4 - Curriculum: Brain Research, Math, Science
• Beginnings Workshops Book #5 - Curriculum: Art, Music, Movement, Drama
• Hearing Everyone’s Voice: Educating Young Children for Peace and a Democratic Community
• Connecting: Friendship in the Lives of Young Children
• More Than Numbers: Mathematical Thinking in the Early Years
• Exchange Articles Collection #3 - Children with Differing Abilities
• Out of the Box Training Kit (printed version): Recognizing the Essentials of Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum

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