Open Society Foundations and International Step-by-Step Association Launch the Romani Early Years Network
Upon further reading I saw a link to the website of one of the partner organizations Diversity in Early Childhood Education and Training http://www.decet.org/en.html because it sounded like I could gain some more insight on the equity issue of access for all. I decided to explore the new website to see what they were about. What I found most exciting about the new website was the partnerships across Europe. Often I think about our field as it is contained in one nation. I find the joint work of so many Countries to be inspiring. I also appreciate the work that is done in the spirit of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. By finding and exploring this website and others like it will add a richness to my knowledge and ultimately my work on behalf young children and their families. Here is look at their work.
MISSION STATEMENT
All children and adults have the right to evolve and to develop in a context where there is equity and respect for diversity. Children, parents and educators have the right to good quality in early childhood education services, free from any form of - overt and covert, individual and structural - discrimination due to their race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status (in reference to Article 2, UN-Convention on the Rights of the Child).
Therefore the DECET Network will empower knowledge, skills and attitudes to enable children and adults to construct together early childhood education services and communities where everyone:
- feels that he/she belongs
- is empowered to develop the diverse aspects of his/her identity
- can learn from each other across cultural and other boundaries
- can participate as active citizens
- actively addresses bias through open communication and willingness to grow
- work together to challenge institutional forms of prejudice and discrimination
About Diversity in Early Childhood Education
DECET vzw (Diversity in Early Childhood Education and Training) brings together a network of European organisations and projects with common goals about valuing diversity in early childhood education and training.
The network aims at promoting and studying democratic child care, acknowledging the multiple (cultural and other) identities of children and families. We view early childhood provisions as meeting places where people can learn form each other across cultural and other borders and therefore as public provisions that can effectively address prejudices and discrimination. In this sense early childhood education makes a clear contribution to the construction of European citizenship.
DECET Goals
The European DECET Network promotes equity and celebrates diversity in early childhood education services and in training, in the spirit of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child by:
1. Facilitating exchange among trainers, practitioners, researchers and policy makers throughout Europe
2. Actively and critically promoting accessibility and quality in early childhood education services, which includes equity and respect for diversity.
- for cooperation with parents this means to empower them to fully participate in early childhood services and in their community as democratic citizens
- for working with educators this means to address stereotypical thinking and institutional discrimination
- for working with policy makers and managers this means to work towards equal access for children, parents and staff and challenging discrimination and unequal power relation in early childhood education services
3. Developing new insights and knowledge in this field
4. Working in collaboration with other networks in and outside Europe
5. Devising and implementing strategies to impact mainstream childcare services and influence current childcare policies
Diversity in Early Childhood Education and Training Website (2013) Retrieved from:http://www.decet.org/en/about-us.html
Betsy, this website sounds interesting. I have never heard of it. I will keep the address for future knowledge. It sounds like from reading your post that they do great things for their children and families. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBetsy, thanks for sharing the information on about your new found web resource. I am glad that there is a European organization that is bringing together others for one common goal-the children.
ReplyDeleteI have to share that I sometimes think that our field is just in America as well. I am so thankful for this course broadening my horizons. Early Childhood Education is a global field and its not just what we do in America that affects the kids in America-but what is done in the World affects American kids as well.
Betsy thank you for sharing this information. The site has some very useful information. I do like the fact that the organization focuses on equity and diversity in education and training in spirit of the UN.
ReplyDeleteHi Betsy, thanks for the insightful information. You really out did yourself with how depth you went into the information. There is some really useful information that you mentioned with the sites your posted. You did a great job on your blog post.
ReplyDelete