CHILDREN BELIEVE FUND

Published purpose

This project expands and improves the availability and the quality of early childhood development in 14 rural communities in Burkina Faso. Approximately 1,300 adults in caregiving roles, including parents, teachers, pre-school and community workers are trained in the importance of early childhood development and education using the Learning Through Play (LTP) early childhood development methodology developed by Hincks-Dellcrest. Parents/caregivers receive information about the cognitive, socio-emotional, linguistic, and physical aspects of early childhood development of children from birth to 6 years old. This low cost, low-literacy, multicultural approach encourages parental involvement, learning, and parent-child attachment. It has been culturally adapted with respect to illustrations, language, concepts, and values for the local context. The project expects to ultimately impact over 3,000 children by improving the success rates of children in elementary school, reducing gender gap in elementary school enrolment, and improving infant/child health.