The delegates at the World Forum on Early Care and Education in Auckland have come from more than 50 countries, including Iceland, Nepal and Namibia, bringing with them perspectives as diverse as their cultures. Being receptive and reassuring emerged as simple but effective ways that childcarers could support children at times of crisis, while delegates raised subjects ranging from domestic and media violence to the destructive impact of the poverty experienced in developing countries as a result of globalisation.
Violence and peace was one of three key themes of the conference, alongside the role of women and child health. The exploration of the role of women began with a presentation from Siobhan Fitzpatrick, director of NIPPA, the early years organisation in Northern Ireland. She told how a group of women in Pomeroy, a disadvantaged community with high levels of sectarian violence, high unemployment and low educational attainment, had set up a pre-school service where none previously existed. She said, 'We have empowered women, we have begun a journey and created a movement which has become unstoppable.'
Dr Jacqueline Hayden, an Australian who has worked in early childhood education in countries including Rwanda and Mauritius as well as for UNICEF, introduced the theme of child health by saying that early childhood professionals needed to team up with those from other disciplines. They needed to work with adult educators, as families had an enormous influence on early development, and with doctors, health workers and food producers to tackle problems such as iron deficiency and obesity as well as infant deaths caused by vaccine-preventable diseases. As poverty, poor sanitation and war created long-term disadvantage for children, early childhood professionals should also join forces with non-governmental organisations, human rights activists and lawyers.
At the start of the conference delegates were given a traditional Maori welcome and greeted by the New Zealand education minister, Trevor Mallard, who said that the early years were critically important and had been treated as the 'poor relation' of education for too long.
The World Forum is organised by US-based publication ChildCare Information Exchange. The 2003 Forum will be in Acapulco, Mexico, from 13 to 16 May. For more details see the website www.ChildCareExchange.com.
* Nursery World's attendance at the forum was sponsored by children's equipment manufacturer Community Playthings.
