What are some of the current international research topics?
In Africa there are a lot of motherless children due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. “Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV and AIDS than any other region of the world. An estimated 22.5 million people are living with HIV in the region - around two thirds of the global total. In 2009 around 1.3 million people died from AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and 1.8 million people became infected with HIV. Since the beginning of the epidemic 14.8 million children have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.” (Standley,E., 2009) A majority of the research topics center around the motherless children. People are trying to find out how these children are being cared for in orphanages. Research is also being conducted to find better curriculum in childcare. The country wants to find better ways to support families through education about AIDS no matter if it is a single parent, grandparent, or two parent house hold.
What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?
I found after exploring this sight that the people in the Sub-Saharan Africa have many of the same problems that we here in America have. They have to deal with orphaned children. They want to improve their educational system. Educating parents is a big part of what they are trying to do. People all over the world are dealing with these same issues.
What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?
I found that people are coming to same conclusion about childcare all over the world. “The relationship between employment and support to working families for better childcare can no longer be ignored. As we become more aware of human rights there is a need to appreciate and respect humanity by recognizing what goes into nurturing a ‘whole’ human being right from the start that will contribute to national development. The cost of child rearing should be given due priority in all sectors. There is a need for multisectoral collaboration in supporting families to ensure that young children get optimum care from their parents and other competent persons as their parents contribute towards national development through employment outside the home.” (Nankunda , H. C., 2004) Yet, we still have our governmental leaders turning a blind eye to the facts about early childhood.
Resources
Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), (2005) Final Major Projects and Theses. Retrieved from http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php
Standley, E., (2009) HIV & AIDS in Africa. Retrieved from http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-africa.htm
Nankunda , H. C., (2004) Policies and Programs in Support of Childcare for Working Families: A Case Study of Data Sets and Current Activities in Uganda. Retrieved from http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/documents/major_projects/Nankunda%20-MP%20Final%20-%20UVic%20LP.pdf
Many countries have to deal with some of the same issues, it's just that some are worse off than others. As professionals, we have to make sure that we are equipped with the necessary tools to educate our parents so that together, we can educate our youth on taking necessary precautions to prevent transmitting diseases.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that there are a lot of similarities in the problems early childhood professionals deal with all over the world. I think that is why international research can be so beneficial to us all! Thank you for your informational post!
ReplyDeleteIt seems that many of us struggled with the same challenges. I too knew what I wanted to say, but found it difficult to put on paper. I find research to be a very complex process. I've gained a new level of respect for research professionals, because regardless of the complexities, research can be very rewarding as it seeks to enhance better outcomes for children and society as a whole.
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