Sharing Web Resources

ICRI (International Child Resource Institute) has partnered with the Ghana Ministry of Education,

Outcomes:
Over 2,200 Ghanaian teachers have received training from ICRI Ghana in best practices for early childhood education.
Over 1,900 children in the lowest-income areas of Accra have received high quality education from ICRI Ghana-affiliated schools.
Over 480 young women have received vocational training and support services from ICRI Ghana.

During my phone conversation with Ken Jaffe, the Director and founder of the International Child Resource Institute, he told me about the book that he wrote called, "Straw into Gold" which shows teachers how to take used materials which can be recycled into meaningful children's activities. The book description states, "Often teachers and parents around the world lack the training or materials needed to provide stimulation, growth and development for young children. Straw into Gold shows you how to use materials you already have and create activities which are intended to cost very little or nothing. These activities allow educators, parents and volunteers the opportunity to provide enrichment and growth for children.
Over the past decade, co-authors Ken Jaffe and Leslie Falconer, have collaborated on innovative early childhood development practices with early childhood professionals and various organizations and have worked with children in less developed parts of the world. According to Jaffe, In Guayaquil, Ecuador we were fascinated by the amazing use of found objects which were transformed by energetic teachers and parents into meaningful children's activities. This collaboration and observation, which extended into 30 countries, has evolved into Straw into Gold which provides the framework for these exciting, stimulating and developmentally appropriate activities. Moreover, the book allows for the creation of activity areas that can be placed anywhere - from the classroom setting to an open space with a dirt floor. According to Falconer, Children learn best when they can move, touch and explore throughout the day. Carefully designed activity areas allow children to develop important cognitive, social/emotional and physical skills. She went on to say that this book is a beginning in the efforts to help children anywhere experience the joy of early childhood."

I was so inspired by Ken Jaffe and the amazing work that he does to help children around the world. It turns out that the Professor had a few grant ideas in the works, one which includes a garden which would be a Bedouin Outdoor Learning Center to help teach Bedouin children about their roots and learn about ecology and herbal medicine. I feel so happy that the ICRI may start working with the Bedouin children. As soon as I find out more, I will keep you all updated on the progress.