Two dozen industry professionals are presently involved in the Annual
Meeting of Early Childhood Coordinators, Education Officers, Directors and
Leaders at the Trade Winds Hotel in Antigua and Barbuda.
The three-day workshop, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday this week, is being hosted and facilitated by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
(OECS) Commission in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF) Eastern Caribbean under the theme “Improving Access to
Quality Early Childhood Development Services for All Children”.
During the course of the meeting, colleagues are sharing best practices, as
well as annual reports and work plans for the next year. Updates on
various initiatives are being introduced by individuals and agencies,
including consultant, Dr. Tristi Nichols; Dr. Sheron Burns of the
University of the West Indies (Cave Hill); Sharon Nightingale of the Child
Care Board, Barbados; Ms. Sisera Simon of the OECS Education Development
Management Unit; and Ms. Paula Trotter of the Foundation for the
Development of Caribbean Children.
Ms. Shelly-Ann Harper of UNICEF Eastern Caribbean is presenting on Protection in Early Childhood.
On the final day of the forum, industry professionals from 12 territories
and four regional agencies will visit a number of Antiguan Early Childhood
Centres.
Established in 2012, FDCC envisions a Caribbean where children from all
socio-economic backgrounds have equal opportunities to reach their maximum
potential.
Towards enabling that vision, FDCC works closely with the OECS
Commission, UNICEF and other regional agencies, with a principal emphasis
on advocacy and education. FDCC hopes to enhance its programming and
increase the level of collaboration with other stakeholders as a result of
its participation in, and contribution to, this workshop.
Saint Lucia, which hosted in 2015, are being represented by Agnes Prince,
Director of Daycare Services in the Ministry of Education, Innovation,
Gender Relations and Sustainable Development.
L’herbe verte de la sagesse.
Le calme du
matin apparaît
dans la douceur
de la nouvelle
sagesse, avec
un poème qui
revient avec toi
où le son
disparaît.
Francesco Sinibaldi