Early Childhood Project
To Improve Access To Early Childhood Development Opportunities
Evergreen Education Foundation (EEF) is funding The Community Parenting and Play Center Project. The main project objectives are to support the early childhood development of children 1-6 years of age, who live in rural areas. EEF is dedicated to improving access to learning opportunities of high quality for children and young adults in rural and low-income areas in China. Historically, EEF has funded projects focused primarily on middle and high school students. EEF is delighted to fund a project, which is based on current research and has great potential as a model for improving the long-term prospects for the youngest children in rural China.
Results from many studies in the last decade indicate that the most effective action to reduce inequality is to invest in programs that target the youngest children, who are growing up without the basic nutrition and interactions with parents and other caregivers that promote the development of cognitive and social skills. The Project will establish 2 Parenting and Play Centers in 2 villages in Tengchong City, Yunnan Province, China; recruit and train an instructor for each Center, provide a wide range of toys and books to provide a place for parents and caregivers to interact with children and for education activities, such as reading books to children; and promote the development of early childhood education through Center activities and home visits. Project activities also include training of parents and other caregivers assessments of children, and 4 semi-annual progress reports covering such topics as activities and training, challenges and solutions, community impact, and lessons learned. At least 60 children and their families will participate in the project. Planet Aid (a US-based NGO) will administer and monitor the Project through its partner, Humana People to People’s representative office in Yunnan, which is responsible for implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and advocating this project.
2024-2026
The Scientific Parenting and Child Development Program, supported by the Evergreen Education Foundation, spans two years from June 2024 to May 2026. The project aims to explore support models suitable for the growth and development of children aged 1-4 in rural areas, promoting scientific parenting concepts and knowledge to local families and governments, thereby positively impacting children’s growth. The project has established two parent-child activity centers in Xinglong Village and Sanlian Village, Mazhan Township, Tengchong City, Yunnan Province. These centers are equipped with furniture, toys, books, and activity materials to aid child development, and have each hired activity center Parenting Guides.
Preparatory work took place from July to September 2024. The project carried out a needs assessment, recruitment and pre-service training of activity center parenting guides, as well as material procurement. The Xinglong and Sanliand parent-child activity centers officially opened on September 14, 2024. The centers operate four days a week, five hours a day. By the end of December 2024, they had been open for 120 days, totaling 605 hours. Fifty children participated in the center activities, with a total of 1,258 participatory events by the children.
