Evergreen Education Foundation funds parenting and play centers in Xinglong and Sanlian villages, Mazhan Township,  Tengchong City, Yunnan Province, China, aiming to enhance early learning for rural children (ages 0-4). The project funding supports providing a local parenting and play center in each village, identifying and training a local teacher, and establishing grassroots community village parents’ committees to plan and conduct appropriate development programs and activities. Nearly 40 percent of China’s rural children are at risk of early developmental delays. Research has identified key factors contributing to early childhood development delays, which are poor or inappropriate parenting practices in early nutrition, early stimulation, and a nurturing family environment.  Without appropriate intervention, young children, 0-4 years old, will miss the most important period of life development. Due to inadequate early child development, they may not have the skills and knowledge to thrive in China’s economy. This project will run from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2026 (24 months), covering 60 children.  Evergreen will receive reports every six months.

The Early Childhood Project is based on research, discussed in several publications, including: Invisible China: How the urban-rural divide threatens China’s rise by Scott Rozelle and Natalie Hell (University of Chicago Press, 2020); China’s Invisible Crisis: Cognitive Delays among Rural Toddlers and the Absence of Modern Parenting, The China Journal, v. 78, July 2017  (https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/692290); China – Yunnan Early Childhood Education Innovation Project (English). Washington, D.C. : World Bank Group. ) http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/841671656601372539 ), and Guidelines for Healthy Raising and Care of Infants and Young Children Under 3 Years Old (Trial): (https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-11/29/content_5729421.htm )