Caregiver Engagement and Family Literacy

• In Event: Promoting literacy and indigenous language education

Proposal

The role of education as a long-term mechanism for breaking the cycle of extreme poverty is globally recognized. Education is strongly related to economic growth, reduced income inequality, reduced infant and maternal deaths, reduced stunting and reduced violence at home and in society. Basic literacy, numeracy and life skills empower individuals to access markets, health information, political and social networks and to live healthier and more productive lives. A holistic education will support the development of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive and communication skills, so that the child has opportunities to participate fully in society and achieve personal successes.

Concern Worldwide recognizes the role of family members in supporting children’s learning and wellbeing. Parents, siblings and extended family members can play an important role in ensuring children attend school daily, have time for homework and, most importantly, are exposed to positive experiences at home. For children that have experienced trauma through conflict, violence, emergencies, or natural disasters, providing them with a safe home learning environment can help in the healing process. When families spend time together, bonds can strengthen between caregivers and children. Family literacy can describe the way parents, family and community members use literacy at home and in their communities. Family literacy interventions can provide caregivers and family members with the knowledge, attitudes and strategies to engage in literacy activities at home with their children, regardless of their literacy levels.

Concern is helping to build the capacity of caregivers and family members in order to support their children at home in their learning and development through the Caregiver Engagement and Family Literacy Initiative. Caregiver Engagement and Family Literacy provides parents and other family members with practical but simple strategies to support their children’s learning and development at home. It builds trust, strengthens relationships within families, and provides a safe environment for children to learn and develop.

It is comprised of a series of participatory sessions for caregivers that are led by trained individuals. In some contexts, Caregiver Engagement can include home visits to further support caregivers after they have completed the workshops. Family literacy is an important component of Caregiver Engagement within Education programmes. Family literacy is a term used to describe parents and children - or more broadly - adults and children - learning together. Literacy activity occurs naturally during the routines of daily living. Through Caregiver Engagement, adults and children can be supported to develop the skills necessary to engage in meaningful Family Literacy.

The curriculum used for Caregiver Engagement and Family Literacy interventions will differ depending on the context and the specific needs of communities, regardless of their literacy levels. However, to ensure quality, curricula of all Caregiver Engagement and Family Literacy interventions should include six core components:

Spending Time Together and age Appropriate Play
Positive Parenting
Read-Alouds and Storytelling
Low Cost Literacy materials
Art and Music
Numeracy Games

In addition to the above modules, countries may develop other topics to address the needs of families in specific contexts related to home learning. The needs of communities may differ from one context to another and the support we provide is aligned with those needs.

Lebanon was one of the first countries to develop a curriculum to meet the needs of Syrian refugee families with young children. Turkey adapted the curriculum and has also been working with Syrian refugee families. Over the past year, Turkey has expanded their reach to caregivers with adolescents. Most recently, Kenya has begun to implement this initiative, and is using radio programming for delivery, since the start of COVID.

A comprehensive data collection strategy is in place and includes needs assessments, focus group discussions, knowledge, attitudes and practices surveys, observations and a Most Significant Change technique. We hope to share our progress and impact from all three contexts and gain critical feedback on how we might further strengthen this initiative.

Author

• Shezleen Vellani, Concern Worldwide