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Early Childhood Resource Center- ECRC

The End of Project Ceremony for the Capacity Building of the Early Childhood Project in East Jerusalem

2/23/2012

Jerusalem- Under the auspices of the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), and with funding from the European Union (EU) Oxfam Novib together with the Early Childhood Resource Center (ECRC) have completed a three-year project to improve educational opportunities for children living in the most vulnerable areas of East Jerusalem.

The project, “Capacity Building of the Early Childhood Sector in East Jerusalem” has targeted 70 kindergartens throughout East Jerusalem, giving 5,945 children the chance to learn and play in a safe, healthy environment. Targeting areas of East Jerusalem where residents are suffering from lack of municipal services and daily injustices associated with the Israeli occupation, such as home demolition, eviction, and revocation of residency rights, the EU funded project has encouraged parents and teachers to work together to improve the situation for children by empowering them through learning.

“The lack of funding for municipal schools in East Jerusalem has led to a chronic shortage of classrooms and children in East Jerusalem are facing an uphill climb in accessing quality education. If we start building safe and vibrant learning spaces from the beginning, we can start these children off on the right foot and give them a better chance for a brighter future,” said Marta Lorenzo Rodriguez, Associate Country Director for Oxfam Novib.

In addition to renovating kindergartens and building indoor and outdoor learning spaces, the project trained 70 kindergarten teachers and 45 head teachers on methods for holistic and comprehensive learning, including inclusive learning, creative learning, and learning through problem solving. The project also provided workshops for 930 parents, who were able to come together with teachers and experts in the field of early childhood education to better understand their role in their children’s education and what kind of support they could provide their children to make the passion for learning life-long.

A closing ceremony for the project was held on 23 February 2012. At the closing ceremony the findings of a research report conducted as part of the project were presented. The report, “Early Childhood Care- Education and Development in East Jerusalem,” is groundbreaking in that it provides a comprehensive overview of the early childhood sector in East Jerusalem, as well as important recommendations for increased stakeholder engagement in helping the sector grow.

Most importantly, the evaluations at the end of the project found that teachers participating in the EU funded project noted children were happier, more excited about coming to preschool, and more talkative and interactive with others. These are all positive signs of good development and social skills, and this can enhance school readiness.

A performance by the children of two kindergartens participating in the project (Dar Al-Ma’refa and Bunat Al-Mustakbal Kindergarten) was also given at the closing event.

Representatives of the project expressed their thanks to the EU, Oxfam Novib, and the ECRC as well as to the parents, teachers, children, and communities involved in the project. All of the speakers noted how much they and the children have benefited from this project.

-ENDS-

For more information about this project please contact:
Willow Heske, Oxfam Media Lead
willow.heske@oxfamnovib.nl
972 (0)59 7133646
972 (0)54 6395002

For more information about EU support for this project please contact:
Shadi Othman, EU Communications & Media
Shadi.OTHMAN@eeas.europa.eu
972 (0) 599673958

This project was funded by the European Union.

news in Palestine news and info Agency- WAFA

Launching for the project entitled
"comprehensive development for the kindergartens in East Jerusalem”
funded by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development
Under the supervision of Welfare Association
The project will be implementing in full partnership and cooperation between the Early childhood resource center (ECRC), Qattan Foundation, Ministry of Education, and the Union of Charitable Societies

The Early Childhood Resource Center celebrated the graduation ceremony yesterday, January 17th 2011, of the second cohort of head teachers and teachers of kindergartens as part of the “Capacity Building of Early Childhood” project in East Jerusalem ENPI/2008/172-438 whereby the European Commission has funded 89% and Oxfam Novib has co-funded 11% of the total budget of 625,325.20 Euros. Beneficiaries of the project’s second year included 23 kindergarten teachers who participated in the teachers’ on-the job training program and 15 head teachers who participated in the head teacher training program. Other beneficiaries included 320 mothers who participated in the parents’ program. The project targeted 23 KGs where infrastructure renovation works was carried out in addition to providing indoor and outdoor educational toys to ensure a holistic and integrated approach for the early childhood education sector in East Jerusalem.

Oxfam Novib and the Union of Charitable Societies participated in the event. The ceremony took place in at the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) in East Jerusalem during which several speeches were presented by members of the project steering committee who have strengthened the partnership of institutions in their support of the early childhood sector particularly in East Jerusalem and surrounding areas. A summary of the project’s second year achievements was also presented.

During the event presentations were carried out illustrating all programs that were implemented in the area (teachers’ on the job training, teachers training and parents’ program) and participants expressed the direct and indirect benefits they have gained from the project on the professional, academic and financial levels.

At the end of the ceremony certificates were distributed to graduates namely head teachers: Muntaha Tutunji, Hanadi Sunnokrot, Sundos Da’aas, Khitam Khamis, Susan Nunu, May SUnnukrot, Hiyam FUad li Rumman, Sa’adiyya Wazwaz, Kifah A’raj, Dalal Kurdiyyeh, Latifah Abu Afifiyyeh, Rania Ahmad Ayyad, Abla Al Sheikh Ali, Nadia Badriyyeh, Hanan Abu Sneineh. Certificates were also distributed to teachers: Amal Dkeidek, Hayat Sbeih, Rania Abu Odeh, Samira Muhammad Ali, Hilda Al Sayyad, Manal Khayri Abed Rabbo, Ghada Ra’fat Muhammad Shweiki, Hana Dirbas, Mirvat Nimer, Layla Elwi, Majdoleen A’raj, Hana’ Kassem, Amani Karaeen, Alaa Nassreddin, Ameera Abu Kaff, Maha Taha Issa Ghanayem, Thana’ Darweesh, Nahed Al Shirif, Dina Rizek, Niveen Aljulani, Rana Saqallah, Mirvat A’raj and Rana Abu Alfeelat.



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ECRC General Director Mr. Nabil Sublaban and CCP Representative Ms. Harumi Kawagoe have signed an agreement to implement the CCP initiative program "Training of Psycho-social support in villages of Palestine", supported by the Japanese Government.
The project duration is from 1st of March 2010 to 28th of February 2011.
The project will be implemented in Ramallah area and villages around, worth to be mentioned that this project is a continuous project for the third year since 2007.

Media and children Conference was held and organized by Early Childhood Resource Center under the project “Utilizing and activating media for promoting and spreading children rights” (EIDHR/2008/165-955) funded by the European Commission, it was held on Monday and Tuesday 23-24/11/2009 in Ramallah, which coincided with the twentieth anniversary of signing of the Convention on the Rights of Children and on the light of the International Day for the prevention of child abuse.

The opening session was headed by Mr. Basri Saleh the assistant Deputy Minister for Planning and Development of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education representing the Minister Mrs. Lamis al-Alami; and by Mrs. Basima Adawin the Task Manager- Human Rights Projects of the European Union and by Mr. Judeh Jamal the Early Childhood Resource Center Board Chairman and by the General Director of ECRC Mr. Nabil Sublaban.

The conference attendances were representing an outstanding collection of professionals from formal, local and international organizations.
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The Conference sessions over the two days addressed ten specialized working papers in addition of presentation of the experiences of children with the media and the children rights.

The Conference is also offered the opportunity for the working groups to discuss the vision and recommendations pertaining children and media, and develop a strategic plan to promote children issues and rights through media.

It is worth to mention that a special book documenting all of the conference papers and experiences, discussions, recommendations, and strategic plan of media will be a published.