ECE world forum addresses corporate social responsibility for preschoolers

ACAPULCO, Mexico — Rescuing abandoned children of prisoners in Nepal, preventing the prostitution of adolescent porter girls in the markets of Ghana, training therapists for treating sexually abused children upon the request of the Children Ministry of Justice, and others mark the on-going opportunities of the Early Care and Education (ECE) World Forum Alliance to make a difference for the children of the world with the help of business corporations.

International Child Resource Institute (ICRI) Executive Director Ken Jaffe of Sweden, like a modern Viking conqueror has spearheaded 22 dynamic projects for families and children at risk. He is a member of the organizing committee of ECE World Forum Convention, just concluded at the Fairmont Acapulco Princess Hotel.

The fifth World Forum on Early Care and Education grew out of the 25-year old commitment of Roger and Bonnie Neugebauer for Child Care Information Exchange, a magazine publication which has served as a way for child care professionals to exchange information and creative ideas. The World Forum represents a giant step in fulfilling this commitment on a global basis.

The Philippines ECE Trend, A Hopeful Note

Before 526 child care providers, UNESCO Secretary General of the Philippines Ambassador Preciosa S. Soliven addressed the Plenary Session II "ECE Trendwatchers from Six Regions of the World" comparing the status report of the Filipino child with the children of Northern Ireland, U.S.A., Nigeria, Australia and Mexico. She is the founder of the 37-year old Operation Brotherhood Montessori schools and the 20-year old Montessori Pagsasarili Literacy Twin Projects for village mother and children which won the 1993 UNESCO International Literacy Program award in New Delhi.

Ambassador Soliven recalled the invaluable role of CONCEP, the Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Education, that served for 15 years as the advisory agency to the DECS Bureau of Elementary Education regarding child guidance between birth to the age of six. Ambassador Soliven as the CONCEP board Vice President and Dr. Lily Rodrigo Canlas, its president (World Forum Philippines representative since 1999) pushed for the passage of the ECE bill in Congress. The yearly CONCEP convention for quality ECE constantly raised the awareness of the nation in Child Care so that the headquarters for the Council of Child Welfare was readily set-up to prove the Philippine pledge to the Convention of the Rights of the Child. Emmy Garon, CONCEP founding member and treasurer has become the Deputy Executive Director of the National Early Childhood Care and Development Coordinating Council.