AFRICAN CONTACTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

I was successful in contacting two principles in Africa from two different areas. I asked general questions concerning their trends and issues. District Elder Wilson Madegwa is from Kenya and oversees 3 church schools in 3 different cities. His schools are divided into three categories: baby class - ages 3 1/2 to 5 yrs, Nursery class - 5 1/2 to 6 yrs, and primary school starting at age 7. The schools are private. But most of the students are poor walking to school barefoot up to 6 kilometers one way. Because of the travel times, some classes wait til the students arrive before starting class. Entire families may scrape up the money for one child to go to the private school. Kenya does have public schools. D/E Madegwa's major concerns are lack of nutrition, substance abuse at home, and sexual abuse of the children.

Eld. Sebastian Gaye is the over seer of one church school in Monrovia, Liberia. Eld. Gaye's school is what we would call pre-k to High School. The school is in the city and most of the children are in some way affiliated with the church or recommended by a church member. The children are taught to seek higher learning. Jobs are scarce in their area and they seek education for a way out of poverty.

I will continue to interview D/E Madegwa and Eld. Gaye on other phone conversations. They both were very happy to share. I look forward to learning from them.

Heartland Equity and Inclusion Project (HEIP)

http://heartland.edu/news.jsp?newsID=2065

Don’t get me wrong. I love Walden U. J However, Heartland Community Colleges website posts news vital to our Illinois communities and to the EC field. This project in progress is funded by the U.S. Dept. of Education in order to inform professionals of news and findings concerning the learning needs of young children. The project is a 4 year ongoing program as it continues to gather and report information that will ensure equity and inclusion for all children in the early childhood environment.

This web page posts announcements of early childhood conferences, programs, and Illinois alerts. I’m intrigued that Heartland posts syllabi, objectives, and resources for courses held at their college. Most colleges only allow that information to current and past students, and staff. They do not have an email alert yet. The website is a work in progress and I expect to see more from the site shortly.

ISSUES AND TRENDS IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD

For the class titled 'Issues and Trends in the Early Childhood Field', we have been asked to contact two EC professionals outside of the United States. The purpose is to learn the trends and issues of other countries from on hand professionals.

I had not thought before this class about the contacts I already have at my access. My church international affiliation has churches all over the the world. I chose to reach out to some of the African people that I know personally. One contact is a principle of a pre-k to 12th grade school. Eld. Gaye is traveling in the U.S. right now. I emailed and will call the secretary of the Global Missions overseer to speak with him or receive a good email contact for him.

For my second contact, I emailed Eld. Ford, Jr. who has been instrumental in starting schools and building wells in another part of Africa. He promised to contact me Monday with contact information for an administrator or a teacher at one of the schools.

Because my first job in EC is administration, I need to know how to assist the teachers of our center. I chose the site NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER EDUCATORS to study during this class.

I'm grateful for this opportunity because it will give me first hand information of the conditions of the schools that I have been supporting monetarily from a distance. I would be happy to share my extra contacts with my classmates if needed.