Reflection: Final Blog Post

• Post at least three consequences of learning about the international early childhood field for your
• professional and personal development (any format, any length)

Professional Development

1        I gained more momentum in my quest to help my children and families      

2         I was able to meet a person who wants to help me deliver hope to children and   families

3        I was able to look at my environment and realize the potential growth

Personal Development

4        I was able to see how much more I needed to learn about early childhood education

5        The importance to just listening because the answers may there waiting to be heard

6        Most of all it is ok if what I want to achieve takes longer than I expected, I have to be patient.

• Post one goal for the field related to international awareness of issues and trends and the spirit of collegial relations

I want to collaborate with the International Child Resource Institute, and obtain some of the knowledge that the organization can lend me, and bring it back to my community.

                                                                

                

                                                                                

                                                                                  

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Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

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My international contact Ken Jaffe Director of the International Child Resource Institute is out of the country on another mission to assist the children and families.  I was not able to make contact with him, however his assistant was able to share this information with me, and said he would contact me soon.

I am disappointed that I do not have more of his input and insight on the access, equity, and the following questions concerning early childhood programs:

What issues regarding quality and early childhood professionals are being discussed where you live and work?

What opportunities and/or requirements for professional development exist?

What are some of your professional goals?

What are some of your professional hopes, dreams, and challenges?

The wonderful aspect of my building a professional relationship with Mr. Jaffe and the International Child Resource Institute is, that I have just began to discover the world of international early childhood development with a seasoned and passionate warrior for children and families

Saring Web Resources

                                                                  

I searched the International Children Resource Institute website and found additional information relevant to the question of excellence and equality in early childhood education.  ICRI provides services that are accessible, affordable, and available to the families in the areas where their programs are located.   ICRI Heart Leap School, Berkley Child Care center, and Heart Leap North use a discovery-based emergent curriculum, children learn everything by doing and experiencing the project.  In total the five quality early childhood programs in California are model programs in their communities and provide study and learning exchange opportunities for educators around the world.    

The state of California, State Department of Education administer allowed ICRI to administer subsidies which gives access to services for everyone, in the community that the Spanish/English Nuevo Mundo early childhood development program is located (Richmond, California).        

I have learned that government, businesses, and early child development organization can work together for the good of the children and families.  There is funding out there for early childhood development, we have to find new strategies to bring that funding into the early childhood community.

 

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

                                                                                                              

   Blog Assignment: Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

My journey through this course of study “Getting to Know Your International Contacts” allowed me to meet Mr. Ken Jaffe of the International Child Resource Institute.  He shared his passion for the work that he has been doing with children and families around the world, and invited me to share my life’s work with him.  After a series of emails and telephone communications, he requested a proposal from my agency for the work that we do here in Nassau and the insight that we have for the children and families in our community.  The email that follows was an amazing and welcomed surprise. 

”Dear Sauda

Thanks so much for your very informative letter about your work. It seems that we at ICRI are kindred spirits with you and the work you are trying to accomplish in Nassau County. If you would be interested in developing a collaboration with us I would be happy to talk to you further about ways that we may be able to provide technical assistance to you in meeting your objectives. We are piloting a model in California, Kenya. Zimbabwe and soon in Haiti that you might be interested in participating in, the programs, known as Centers for Early Childhood Excellence, come in all sizes and shapes. The Centers include teacher training centers and community youth will be trained to be early childhood educators through these Centers. As you probably saw on our website, we also sponsor a youth project, H.O.M.E.Y. in San Francisco and have worked on the Brazil Street Children's Movement. If you are interested in discussing next steps, please contact me, or suggest some dates and times when I can call you. I look forward to hearing from you. All the best, Ken Jaffe”

After reading his email we spoke, and again I was in awe of the extent of his love for children.  My proposal must be emailed to him before his next board meeting.  Needless to say I am excited, overwhelmed, and grateful for the opportunity to possibly work with this beautiful, kind, and passionate human being.