Start date (flexible): 25 February 2021
Venue: Online
This was a seven week self-paced online course (1–3 hours per week). It began 25 February 2021, although enrollment was still possible after this date. It started with a review of basic early childhood development concepts and successful implementation programmes around the world. Participants learned why some programmes succeed where others do less well and what strategies are key for enabling widespread adaptation of quality programming. For those working around the world in early childhood development programmes, the course encouraged reflection and evaluation by reviewing real-world case successes, as well as a new global perspective from other learners. Participants completed the course with new plans and ideas ready to implement within their own programmes.
Aisha Yousafzai (Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health) and Pia Britto (UNICEF) introduced real-world experts in programmes, policy and research including Dr. Marquita Davis, Deputy Director of Early Learning at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, who spoke about Head Start. Dr Christine Powell from the Caribbean Institute for Health Research at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica spoke about Reach Up. Sumitra Mishra, Executive Director of Mobile Creches, spoke about Mobile Creches. Sabrina Habib, the co-founder and Chief Exploration Officer at Kidogo, spoke about Kidogo. Ayah Younis, writer and illustrator in Jordan from Ahlan Simsim; Marie Louise Samuels, former Director of Early Childhood Development in the Department of Basic Education in South Africa, spoke about Grade R; and Claudia Andrea Zamora Reszczynski, specialist in the national team of Chile Crece Contigo at the Ministry of Social Development and Family of Chile, spoke about Chile Crece Contigo.
Related links:
• Enrollment and course videos
Host organization: Harvard University, UNICEF
