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Through its partnership with Yale University, Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundationhas unveiled its Early Childhood Development (ECD) program that includes the establishment of a state-of-the-art Early Childhood Education (ECE) for the UAE.
The Foundation’s ECD program was launched at Muntada, a forum held on 7th October at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, which had over 150attendants.
The Centre, which is to be called the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Centre of Excellence in Early Childhood Development aims to implement services and systems that supports the growth, advancement, and well-being of UAE’s young children that will enable them to reach their fullest potential. Working towards the improvement of the learning outcomes for young children and families, the project includes the creation of national ECD parenting and fellowship training programs.
“The idea is to nurture a UAE based team of well trained professionals to build the capacity ofan ECD labor force in the country and in turn take the ECD program forward for the well-being of our future generation,” said Dr Salvatore LaSpada, Executive Director, Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation.
The speakers at the Forum were Dr LaSpada; Fatima Al Bastaki, Senior Advisor, Shamsa bint Mohamed Al Nahyan Fellowship in Early Childhood Development, Abu Dhabi; and Dr Walter Gilliam, Associate Professor of Child Psychiatry and Psychology and Director of The Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy at the Yale University Child Study Center.
Supporting Dr LaSpada’s explanation, Fatima Al Bastaki said: “The ECD program supports and empowers parents by increasing their knowledge, attitudes and practices in positive parenting through its Parenting Workshop Series starting from January through May 2014. This will also include focus group discussions that will enable parents to understand children’s expectation, motivation to participate in parenting programs, and understanding of their own parenting in the cultural specific context.”
With an aim to equip educators and professionals to develop necessary skills and knowledge in ECD practices and policies, the program is offering the Shamsa bin Mohammed Al Nahyan Fellowship in ECD.
Expressing an international perspective on ECD, Dr. Gilliam, one of the world’s leading experts on the topic commented: “The early years of a child, especially in the ages up to four years, set the stage for the cognitive, physical, behavioral and learning development, as well as success at school, university and eventually at work. Therefore, our initiative entails international best practices within the cultural context of the UAE so that our children can make the most of their talent, potential and confidence.”
Aligned with Abu Dhabi’s efforts towards creating knowledge-based economies via investment in education as well as knowledge generation, the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation aspires to contribute to the human capital development and to lay the foundations for a knowledge economy in the early years.
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