How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.
-Anne Frank
On June 29, early childhood programs around the world celebrated the World Forum's third annual
International Mud Day. International Mud Day is about children and early childhood professionals all over the world celebrating nature, outdoors, and mess by getting really muddy.
Mud Day came about as a result of a meeting of the
Nature Action Collaborative for Children (NACC) at the 2009 World Forum for Early Childhood Care and Education in Belfast. In a discussion about the value of playing in the mud, Bishnu Bhatta from Nepal observed that children in Nepal couldn't play in the mud because many of them did not have enough clothes to be able to get them dirty. NACC member Gillian McAuliffe from Western Australia told this story to the children in her Bold Park Community School and the children decided they could send clothes to the children in Nepal so that they could play in the mud. They raised $1,000 in three weeks and sent it to Bishnu to buy clothes for some children there. So in September 2009 Bishnu did this and arranged a special day for the children of the Panchkhal orphanage, which included their first meat meal in five months.
Since then the two groups have celebrated a very special bond and played in the mud together, although in different countries. This year, a group of six families from Bold Park travelled to Nepal to take part in Mud Day celebrations with the children of Nepal. They also raised money to complete a renovation project at the orphanage. And, perhaps, in 2014 some of the children from Panckhal orphanage in Nepal will visit Australia to celebrate Mud Day with Bold Park Community School.
The World Forum Foundation community offers the opportunity for us all to connect in such wonderful and surprising ways, building global understanding and relationships. Check out photos of Mud Day from around the world on the
World Forum Foundation website.
Register today and connect with over 800 other early childhood professionals from over 80 nations. Spend four days with other delegates discussing key early childhood issues including:
- Caring for Institutionalized Children
- Children with Special Needs
- Connecting Children with Nature
- Creating Environments for Children
- Curriculum Modes
- Family Engagement
- HIV/AIDS and Young Children
- Immigration and Young Children
- Informal Settings
- Leadership in Early Childhood
- Men in Early Childhood
- Multi-Cultural Education
- Peace Education
- Play
- Preserving Indigenous Culture
- Teacher Education
- Workforce Development
Register Today!
Comments (3)
Displaying All 3 CommentsKnowledge is the Key.
Arusha., TASO, Tanzania, United Republic of
I wish to participate at that World Forum, please keep in touch and let me know how to get a chance of Participation.
Knowledge is the Key.
Arusha., TASO, Tanzania, United Republic of
Keep in touch with Tanzanian Local NGO's WORKING with ECCD.
Chicago, Il., United States
My heart overflows with the joy, we do not understand the value of the smallest event. What it may spark in a person. My face is wet with tears of gladness, knowing that we can reach across miles in support of one another. My wish is that be begin to do the same across the table, street, neighborhood, state and so on. Thank you for the article and the photos! great shots.
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