Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
“The mission of the Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD) is to promote policies that will improve
the economic and social well-being of people around the world.
The OECD provides a forum in which governments
can work together to share experiences and seek solutions to common problems.
We work with governments to understand what drives economic, social and
environmental change. We measure productivity and global flows of trade and
investment. We analyze and compare data to predict future trends. We set
international standards on a wide range of things, from agriculture and
tax to the safety of chemicals.
We also look at issues that directly affect
everyone’s daily life, like how much people pay in taxes and social security,
and how much leisure time they can take. We compare how different countries’
school systems are readying their young people for modern life, and how
different countries’ pension systems will look after their citizens in old age”.
One item I found especially interesting was
something called Starting Strong III - A Quality Toolbox for Early
Childhood Education and Care,
which is an
advocacy toolkit for starting quality initiatives around the world.
(Organization
for Economic Co-operation and Development, http://www.oecd.org)
World Forum Foundation
“The mission of the World Forum Foundation is to
promote an on-going global exchange of ideas on the delivery of quality
services for young children in diverse settings.
World Forum on Early Care and Education:
Every
two years 600 – 800 early childhood professionals from more than 80 countries
gather
to share ideas on a wide range of issues impacting the delivery of
quality
services for children and families.
Working Forums: In the alternate
years, Working Forums—regional meetings of early childhood professionals
focusing on specific issues—take place.
Both types of gatherings serve as “meeting places”
where all those interested in promoting the well-being of young children and
families can share ideas, strategies, and perspectives.
World Forum Projects: At World Forum
gatherings people often come together to launch global projects on specific
issues and topics. Current projects focus on men in ece, AIDS and young
children, nature education, peace education, teacher education, and immigration
and young children”.
Attending the next World Forum in 2016 is on my bucket
list.
(World Forum Foundation, https://www.worldforumfoundation.org)
World Organization for Early Childhood Education
“We are part of an international, non-profit,
non-governmental organization with members in more than 70 countries.
We are
college professors, preschool teachers, primary-grade teachers, school
administrators, social workers, psychologists, doctors, nurses, policy makers,
administrators, journalists, physical therapists, librarians, lawyers,
policymakers, college students, volunteers, parents, grandparents, advocates,
and activists.
Our goal is to ensure the wellbeing, rights, and education of
children (birth – age 8) and their families in the U.S.A. and around the world
-- today and in the future.
OMEP is the oldest and largest international
organization focusing on early childhood. OMEP has Consultative Status with the
United Nations, UNICEF, and UNESCO”.
This is an organization I was not aware of and I am glad
to have found their website.
(World Organization for Early Childhood Education, http://www.omep-usnc.org)
NAEYC International Department
While attending the NAEYC Professional Development Institute
I learned of some work NAEYC is doing internationally. The director of the International Department
at NAEYC is a woman named Stephanie Olmore.
Olmore is currently working with the Director for Early Childhood
Education Programs in country of Saudi Arabia to increase quality in their early
childhood system. Stephanie will travel
this fall to Saudi Arabia to help first hand.
Although at this time I have absolutely no qualifications to do this
work I think it would be fascinating to work along side Olmore as an aid to
learn about what she does. I believe I
would need to be organized and willing to learn and do anything while acting in
this role.
Hey, Betsy!! I saw where you listed the World Forum on Early Care and Education as one of the international organizations that appealed to you and as I researched it for myself, I saw that I could possibly use it for my capstone project. Eight hundred forty-one early childhood leaders and practitioners from 81 nations participated in the tenth World Forum on Early Care and Education held May 6 – 9, 2014, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The focus of the event was to discuss the delivery of quality services to young children globally and to develop action plans for achieving quality in diverse settings. For my capstone I am focusing on dual language learners dealing with communication and cultural issues and at the conference they discussed issues such as Immigration, Children’s Rights, Indigenous People, Universal Principles of Early Childhood Curriculum, Nature and Young Children, Cultural Diversity, Infants and Toddlers, Technology for Teacher Education and Professional Development, Trends and Models in Interior Environments, Children with Special Needs, Play, Peace Education, Men in Early Childhood Education, Advocacy, Public Policy, Observation, Care of Children Outside of Centers, Responding to Disaster/Emergency Situations, Empowering Parents as Advocates, Parent Partnerships, Nutrition, Brain Development, Leadership, Art Education, Ongoing Assessment, Multi-Lingual Education, Quality versus Sustainability, and much more. I bet it was an awesome conference!! I see that attending the next World Forum in 2016 is on your bucket list, it looks like it should be on mine too! I might see you there, who knows? Great research!! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Kizzie Edwards
Dear Betsy,
ReplyDeleteYou have some great International resources. NAEYC International Department and although I also possibly lack experience to be an international aid at this time, it would be interesting to travel and learn about early childhood programs in affiliation with NAEYC in various parts of the world! Thank you for providing me with gained insights to some International organizations that I was not aware of.
Betsy,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading about the organizations that you chose. One of the organizations that really interested me was the World Forum Foundation. I think that it is great that every few years, a large number of people get together to share problems around the world. This is interesting and great because it allows individuals from all over the world to find out other issues that are going on in the education field. The individuals from other parts of the world may not know about other issues. This brings awareness to several individuals throughout the world. Very interesting!
Thank you for informing us on NAEYC's international work, I had no idea! This does sound amazing. I have recently discovered international professional development opportunities in an organization that I work with once in awhile, Teaching Strategies, LLC.
ReplyDeleteHi Betsy,
ReplyDeleteThe World Organization for Early Childhood Education is an organization I have also not previously heard about. I think it is great that there are so many people of varying jobs who advocate for young children, all offering a different perspective. Personally, I think this would be an organization I would love to work for, because I would be helping and advocating for children across the globe. Thanks for sharing!