Co-creating with communities for innovative and community participation approaches to reaching children in Early Childhood in emergencies programming

• In Event: Inclusive and Community Participatory approaches for Early Childhood Programming in crisis and conflict affected settings

Proposal

The IRC and partners believe that all communities should be meaningfully involved in the design and implementation of humanitarian programming, though not always easy to do in practice due to a variety of constraints. Flexible funding and including of inception periods of donors such as the lego foundation created the opportunity to ensure Caregivers, community members, children and adolescents were front and center in the development and design of activities, content and spaces in their communities. Research states that the earlier the role of the community in the lives of young children is recognized, the better the chances children have of achieving at school and in life in general (Cotton, 2000). If the connection between schools and communities is strong, it is easier for children to develop the skills needed to be successful socially and emotionally, physically, and academically (Edwards et al., 2008, Oakes and Lipton, 2007; OECD, 2006). By having caregivers be part of this process, there was uptake of participation in activities, caregivers were supported to build resilience withing their own families and empowered in raising their and children’s voices withing their communities. The role that play had in creating a link between these activities and stakeholders was profound. The games, songs and stories generated resonated with not only children but older members of the family as well, reflecting that play even in times of stress can be transformative.

Author

• Camilo Valenzuela, International Rescue Committee IRC