For many years, the city streets and highways of Ecuador filled with children in the days leading up to Christmas. The vast majority came from rural communities. They roamed in small groups, knocking on doors or stopping passing cars to beg for something for Christmas. The most heartbreaking side of child begging was on display in the days just before the December holidays, … [Read more...] about Yes to Gifts, No to Begging
Too young for childcare?
By María Julia Acosta It’s Sunday at noon. Analía and Javier sit down to a family lunch where Mateo, their 15-month-old son, is the main attraction in the eyes of his aunts, uncles and grandparents. But this low-key lunch quickly turns into a lively debate. Are you really thinking of sending Mateo to nursery school when he’s still so little? Don’t you think the best … [Read more...] about Too young for childcare?
Children’s Rights are Human Rights
By Raúl Mercer The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world. In other words, it is irrefutable proof of the will of nations to recognize children as the basis for societies built on fairness and solidarity. In this sense, Latin America and the Caribbean are poised at a unique moment in their histories in which … [Read more...] about Children’s Rights are Human Rights
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
By Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1u4RhHfMcY Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities -an important day for development workers, disability leaders and policy makers, to reflect on how we are addressing the inclusion of persons with disabilities in development assistance. According to the World Report on Disability there are … [Read more...] about International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Bad boys
I am on my way back from Kingston, Jamaica, where the conference Early Childhood Development in the Caribbean took place on Thursday, November 14. The aim of the conference was to share recent findings of three studies by the IDB and distinguished researchers and stalwarts from the University of the West Indies (UWI). The press and TV cover the event very widely as not only … [Read more...] about Bad boys