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Training Workshop in Pakistan: Empowering Child Advocates to Nurture the Spiritual Development of Children

Twenty-five participants coming from diverse regions of Pakistan recently converged in Islamabad for a workshop focusing on the implementation of the Toolkit «Nurturing the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years: A Contribution to the Protection of Children from Violence and for the Promotion of Their Holistic Well-Being.» This event was co-organized by Arigatou International – Geneva and Islamic Relief Worldwide, in collaboration with both the Pakistan Country office and its headquarters in the United Kingdom. This marked the inaugural training of its kind within Pakistan and the fourth to be conducted globally since the Toolkit’s launch in November 2022. Conducted over five days, from 25 to 29 September 2023, the workshop served to enrich participants’ understanding of holistic child development and equipped them with concrete tools to nurture children’s spirituality to enhance the protection of children from violence. The participant group included religious leaders, child protection experts from across Pakistan, child psychologists, early childhood experts from the Aga Khan Foundation and a representative from Search for Justice – Pakistan. Many of these participants occupy roles as program managers or coordinators in child and women development initiatives at Islamic Relief Pakistan, maintaining direct interactions with widows, orphans, and children at risk. Realizing the profound connections between spirituality and child protection was an ‘aha’ moment for many participants. “With 40 years of war we have totally lost the meaning of spiritual well-being,” shared one of the participants. Given their day-to-day engagement with children impacted by adversity, this newfound awareness became instrumental in supporting the cultivation of resilience in children. Moreover, the workshop underscored the detrimental impact of violence on the well-being of children, providing invaluable insights into what we can do professionally and in our personal lives to nurture the flourishing of the child. A significant highlight of the workshop was the visit of Mr. Khalid Naeem, a member of the Pakistan National Commission on the Rights of the Child, who joined the group as a special guest for a session that delved into the context of children in the country. Mr. Naeem stressed the importance of addressing the needs of the most vulnerable children, with a particular focus on children with disabilities. Additionally, Mr. Naeem underscored concerning statistics: 22.5 million children aged 5 to 16 in Pakistan, constituting 44% of the population, do not attend school, while only 42% of children under five have their births registered, hindering the realization of other essential rights. Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq, Chairperson of the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC), also visited the group. She shared invaluable insights regarding the significance of nurturing spirituality during early childhood and expressed the desire for future collaborations with NCRC. During the workshop, participants were introduced to the main components of the Toolkit and reflected on the rights of children, particularly looking at how the Convention of the Rights of the Child provides a framework to support the holistic development of children and affirm their human dignity. They explored the principles of the Convention and how they support the creation of respectful, empowering and loving environments for children to grow and thrive. Participants also engaged in discussions highlighting the critical importance of the early years of life, as they form the bedrock of brain development and holistic growth, including spiritual well-being. “[I learned that] it’s important to adapt your approach to the child’s age, interests, and individual needs. The goal is to help them develop a sense of purpose, values, and inner peace that will guide them throughout their lives,” said a participant. Through dynamic, participatory activities like dialogue and role-playing, participants explored strategies to create positive relationships, safe environments and empowering experiences for children. A significant outcome of this workshop was the commitment participants made to integrate the Toolkit into their work in the communities, targeting parents, caregivers, educators, social workers, community members, and activists. Through these adults, 3,575 children will be reached during implementation, to contribute to improved mental health, greater resilience building and strengthened social and emotional capacities. A standout characteristic of the Toolkit is how it can be adapted and tailored to diverse contexts. This feature is vital in the case of Pakistan, and for Islamic Relief Worldwide as a humanitarian organization, where some beneficiaries are impacted by displacement due to climate crises in the region. The implementation of the Toolkit is being shaped to address these unique regional challenges. The training team included Mr. Azhar Rehan Saifi, Child Care Coordinator, and Ms. Afshan Jamal, Child and Women Development Manager, from Islamic Relief Pakistan, as well as Mr. Anwar Ahmed, Orphans and Child Welfare Manager of International Programmes from Islamic Relief Worldwide. Arigatou International – Geneva was represented by Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe, Executive Director, and Mr. Suchith Abeyewickreme, Program Lead. As we reflect on this significant milestone, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the committed participants and our partners, with special recognition to the Fetzer Institute for their unwavering support, making this training a reality.

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Advancing the Spiritual Development in Early Childhood: A Transformative Workshop in India

In a vibrant and inspiring gathering, a «Trainer of Trainers Workshop» unfolded in the heart of India. From 21 to 25 August 2023, Coimbatore played host to this event at the Shanti Ashram headquarters. The workshop, attended by 20 participants hailing from diverse organizations, including teachers, faith actors, and community workers, delved into the importance of nurturing the spiritual development of children in the early years, highlighting its pivotal role in violence prevention. This was the third Training of Trainers workshop dedicated to the Toolkit “Nurturing the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years,” and the first of its kind held in India. This occasion brought together various organizations committed to enhancing early childhood experiences and nurturing children’s spiritual development. Participants included representatives from Shanti Ashram, partner schools of Shanti Ashram in the surrounding area, Avinashi Lingam University, INEB, Sarvodaya, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. The workshop shed light on the often-overlooked field of early childhood education in India. The rising awareness of its significance, prompted by increased legislation and advocacy, is slowly transforming the way the early years are perceived in the country as the foundation for lifelong health and capacities. During the workshop, participants explored the nine booklets that constitute the «Toolkit: Nurturing the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years.» The Convention on the Rights of the Child, with its emphasis on Article 27, underlining every child’s right to spiritual development, was a key discussion point. Participants also embarked on a series of interfaith visits, which included visits to a Catholic church, a Hindu temple, a Sikh Gurdwara, a Jain temple, and a Mosque. These experiences encouraged reflection on the diverse ways spirituality is nurtured through religion and the common values shared by all faiths, as well as by those not practicing a specific religious or spiritual tradition. Perhaps one of the most profound revelations of the workshop was the realization that spirituality transcends religious boundaries, extending its relevance to both religious and non-religious individuals. Participants also furthered their understanding of the various forms of violence affecting children and how community and interconnectedness are essential components for nurturing children’s spiritual development in the early years, as well as being elements that are central to many religious and spiritual traditions. Participants stated that the workshop offered a much-needed space for reflection, reinvigorating the work they do for children in the early years. One participant shared, «[I learned to] pay attention to children, respect their wishes, not use violence towards them, and be compassionate towards others.» Another highlighted the workshop’s impact on their professional growth, stating, «It helped in upgrading my facilitating skills; I learned to plan the sessions and design training workshops.» Dr. Kezevino Aram, President of Shanti Ashram and Vice Chair of Arigatou International’s Advisory Group, led a compelling session on the realities affecting children in India. Dr. Aram underlined India’s staggering population of 1.36 billion, with 22% living below the poverty line. In a society marked by growing inequality and social divisions, 60% of Indian children lack access to a strong start in life. Dr. Aram emphasized that evidence-based practices are essential to children’s well-being. The delay in incorporating evidence-based approaches directly impacts children’s health and development. She emphasized that not only in India but globally, the spiritual development of children has historically and unfortunately been under-prioritized and misunderstood. As the workshop drew to a close, participants committed to conducting workshops and introductory sessions on the Toolkit with parents, caregivers, and teachers within their organizations. Others committed to continuing their efforts to create safe environments for children and raise awareness about the urgency of ending violence against them. The Shanti Ashram team plan to integrate the Toolkit into their existing curriculum on early childhood development within their Bala Shanti Kendras (ECD Centres) across Coimbatore to reach 176 children from disadvantaged contexts. The workshop’s facilitators, including Deepa Kumaradevan, Head of the Bala Shanti Kendras; Vijayaragavan Gopal, Head of the Youth Leadership Programme; and Pavithra Rajagopalan, Montessori Teacher Trainer & ECD Expert, all from Shanti Ashram, played a vital role. They were joined by Bethany Gum, Global Coordinator of the Toolkit, and Program Officer, and Maria Lucia Uribe, Executive Director, representing Arigatou International – Geneva. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Shanti Ashram for their invaluable support in organizing this workshop. We also extend our gratitude to all the passionate participants whose enthusiastic engagement made this event a resounding success.

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Training of Trainers Workshop in Mexico: Nurturing the Spiritual Development of Children

A Training of Trainers workshop on the Toolkit: Nurturing the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years was held in Mexico City from 12 to 16 June 2023. This was the first of its kind in Mexico and the second in a series of four workshops, following on from the successful workshop held the previous month in Curitiba, Brazil. The workshop aimed at empowering trainers with the knowledge, skills, and tools required to design, plan, execute, monitor, and evaluate training programs for facilitators who will work directly with parents, caregivers, and educators. The workshop gathered 20 participants, including Catholic Sisters, psychologists, educators and staff members from the organizing partners that have committed to implementing the Toolkit into their existing programs in the field. The workshop was hosted by the Franciscan Sisters, and co-organized by Arigatou International and World Vision – Mexico. The Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child at the University of Notre Dame, which are leading the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework, also supported the workshop and guided the MEL processes. The workshop was also observed by Porticus North America, who funded the first two years of implementation in Mexico as well as the global MEL framework development. During the workshop, participants reflected on the importance of spiritual development in the model of holistic development in early childhood, our own understandings of spirituality, and the criticality of nurturing one’s own spirituality in order to nurture children to develop to their full capacities spiritually. In the kick-off, Mr. José Antonio Ruiz, National Officer for Child Protection from UNICEF México, joined the session, to present important statistics about the challenges children face regarding violence in the country. It was a thought-provoking moment that reminded the attendants of the significance of protecting children, especially in the early years, and the importance of such workshops. Throughout the 5 days, participants delved deeply into the connection between nurturing the spiritual development of children and their protection from violence. Participants explored how the brain develops and the impact of violence on its development, as well as exploring the critical importance of three key conditions that support children’s holistic well-being. These conditions, empowering experiences, positive relationships and safe, respectful and violence-free environments, were examined through different activities and group work. Participants also considered how they would cascade their learnings to other adults in their communities and organizations, who would later be trained as facilitators, and think about conducting this learning program to empower parents, caregivers, and educators to nurture the spiritual development of children in the early years. The training highlighted the need to tailor the sessions of the Toolkit to diverse cultural, religious and spiritual contexts, and how to address diverse types of violence affecting children and families in the communities in which they work. At the end of the week, participants shared that the workshop provided them with both professional skills and personal spiritual growth, especially with the focus on oneself. “It is never too late to think about yourself and take some time to meditate, find yourself and give priority to oneself as a person,” said one of the participants. Through this connection with oneself, participants also shared that it reinvigorated their personal motivation and passion for working with children and families as it enabled them to understand spirituality as interconnectedness with others. Also, participants shared how they enjoyed the methodology and learning process of the workshop as it provided them with deep personal growth through practical activities that connected the theory to their realities. One participant said, “It exceeded my expectations and was a radical change in my personal and professional life.” The Franciscan Sisters and World Vision – Mexico will implement the Toolkit systematically for the next year and a half within their existing programs, expecting to reach 4,700 parents and caregivers through on-site training in four regions of Mexico. We thank our partners for working hand in hand with us on this one-of-a-kind project and extend heartfelt gratitude to all participants, who are now pioneer trainers on the spiritual development of children, for paving the way to make a real difference in the lives of families and children across Mexico.

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The First-Ever Training of Trainers Workshop on the Toolkit Was Held in Brazil

News & Blog Home News & Blog News & Blog The First-Ever Training of Trainers Workshop on the Toolkit Was Held in Brazil May 15, 2023 Arigatou International – Geneva in collaboration with Pastoral da Criança has successfully conducted the first-ever training of trainers workshop on the Toolkit: Nurturing the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years. The workshop took place at the Museu da Vida in Curitiba, Brazil from the 8th to the 12th of May, 2023. The Toolkit was developed by the Consortium on Nurturing Values and Spirituality in Early Childhood for the Prevention of Violence and was launched in Rome, in 2022. The Toolkit aims to help equip faith actors, parents, caregivers, educators and community members to actively engage in the promotion of children’s well-being by nurturing spiritual development in the early years and to address violence in early childhood. This workshop was designed to empower participants with the essential tools and knowledge to cascade these capacities within their organizations. The group of participants included ten members of Pastoral da Criança, and four members of Fraternity – International Humanitarian Federation (FIHF), who work in various humanitarian settings across Brazil. Among the participants were Catholic Sisters, community leaders and parish coordinators, as well as technical staff from the organizations.   This was a very unique workshop, not only because of its inaugural status but also for the innovative way in which was rolled out using digital tools. Through the use of their app, Pastoral da Criança can reach families and communities in remote areas. Their app, available online and offline, provides material for families to download and access as well as a space for facilitators and trainers to upload reporting, updates and seek help from the technical team of Pastoral da Criança. Throughout the sessions, participants were able to connect the content of the Toolkit with the contexts in which they work and gain practical skills to directly implement it with beneficiaries such as parents, caregivers, and educators. Moreover, they will be able to train other adults to become facilitators of the Toolkit. During the discussion on early childhood and children’s holistic development, participants were prompted to reflect on their own childhood experiences. This led to a sense of gratitude towards the adults who played a significant role in their upbringing. One participant shared, «My parents were the foundation for everything. Despite being illiterate, my mother placed great importance on our education, and I feel deeply grateful for this.» Participants explored the connection between their spirituality and nature. One participant shared her strong bond with Mother Earth and her indigenous roots, and how this is linked to her understanding of spirituality. After reflecting on how we are all interconnected, participants expressed a great sense of gratitude toward others. The session on the importance of creating empowering experiences for children led participants to reflect on the different ways they can create opportunities for children. “We must allow them to become protagonists,” a participant highlighted. Guided by the expertise of Arigatou International, in conjunction with Ms. Carol Dalabona, National Coordinator, and Ms. Priscila do Rocio Costa, both from Pastoral da Criança, the sessions unfolded with great interest and enthusiasm from the participants. The Consortium on Nurturing Values and Spirituality in Early Childhood for the Prevention of Violence is comprised of 22 partners from faith-based and civil society organizations, religious and spiritual communities, academia, multilateral organizations and individual experts. The Toolkit was developed as part of a four-year process and collaboration as a contribution to the protection of children from violence and for the promotion of their holistic well-being. We’re delighted to witness the Toolkit coming to life through this hands-on training, and we look forward to seeing the positive influence it will bring to communities throughout Brazil. Leave a Reply Cancelar la respuesta Conectado como admin. Edita tu perfil. ¿Salir? Los campos obligatorios están marcados con * Message* Share vía Facebook Share vía Twitter Share vía Email Facebook Twitter Instagram Subscribe to our newsletter Copyright © 2022 CONSORTIUM, All rights reserved | Powered by Muto Studio

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The Toolkit to Nurture the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years Will be Implemented in Brazil, India, Mexico and Pakistan

News & Blog Home News & Blog The Toolkit to Nurture the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years Will Be Implemented in Brazil, India, Mexico and Pakistan May 3, 2023 The International Consortium on Nurturing Values and Spirituality in Early Childhood for the Prevention of Violence received a grant of 300,000 USD from Porticus North America for implementation in Mexico of the Toolkit to Nurture the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years and for the development of a global monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) framework. The Consortium is comprised of 22 partners from faith-based and civil society organizations, religious and spiritual communities, academia, multilateral organizations and individual experts, and aims to foster collaboration, provide a space to share good practices and develop evidence-based and innovative approaches to integrate values-based education and spirituality in early childhood for the prevention of violence and for the promotion of children’s holistic well-being. As part of a four-year process and collaboration, the Toolkit to Nurture the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years was developed by the Consortium, as a contribution to the protection of children from violence and for the promotion of their holistic well-being. The Toolkit aims to help equip faith actors, parents, caregivers, educators and community members to actively engage in the promotion of children’s well-being by nurturing spiritual development in the early years and to address violence in early childhood. Through a structured learning program designed to be integrated into existing programs within implementing organizations, adults are provided with the knowledge, tools and methods to nurture children’s spiritual development as a unique contribution to reduce violence in child upbringing. It makes the case by drawing on existing research that demonstrates the importance of nurturing children’s spiritual development to foster ethical values and prosocial behaviors, which contribute to children’s capacity to relate to others, develop empathy, appreciate diversity and learn to live together in an increasingly divided society. When children grow up and espouse such values, and pass on these values to the next generation, nurturing spiritual development can become a tipping point towards greater social cohesion and more peaceful, resilient societies. The MEL framework and its tools are being developed in collaboration with the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child (GC-DWC) at the University of Notre Dame in the USA. The collaboration with the GC-DWC also includes capacity-building workshops for MEL focal points in four implementing locations, as well as technical support on the MEL process from February 2023 to March 2025. The Founding Director of the GC-DWC, Mr. Neil Boothy, said: “We are excited to partner with the Consortium to develop a novel learning framework for the betterment of children and their families.» On 15 March 2023, a first meeting was held between members of the Consortium and the GC-DWC to discuss the MEL process and gain recommendations for the development of the framework. This meeting aimed to collect expectations on the MEL process from Consortium members and for Consortium members to share their experiences and good practices in implementing early childhood programs in the field. This experience-sharing provided contextualization and a foundation for the GC-DWC moving forwards, as MEL focal points from each implementing location are identified and capacity-building training workshops are designed and conducted. The Toolkit is being implemented in four regions of Mexico with World Vision and the Franciscan Sisters, a member of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC), involving faith actors, social workers, educators, families and children from vulnerable contexts. Ms. Esmeralda Reyes, Faith and Development Manager at World Vision Mexico, shared that through the implementation of the Toolkit, “We hope to make religious leaders aware of the importance of spiritual development in early childhood for the elimination of violent patterns in children’s upbringing, and to support raising-awareness in parents of the importance of a values-based upbringing”. In accordance, Sister Lupita from the Franciscan Sisters, said, “We hope to build bonds of spirituality in early childhood, creating spaces where parents and caregivers acquire the necessary tools to build a comprehensive education; and to contribute to the training of pastoral and social workers in order to strengthen the spiritual and human dimension”. In June 2023, implementation will kick off with a five-day in-person workshop for faith actors, community members and religious leaders to become trainers on the Toolkit and cascade their knowledge on nurturing children’s spiritual development for their protection from violence within the wider community and to parents, caregivers and educators. Nurturing the spiritual development of children is a critical tool that can act as a preventative measure and protective factor against violence through fostering children’s innate spiritual capacities. Implementation is also taking place in three other locations (Brazil, India and Pakistan), supported by a 50,000 USD contribution from the Fetzer Institute, and included in the global MEL framework developed by the GC-DWC. In Brazil, Pastoral da Criança has already begun the Toolkit roll-out with families from diverse regions through their digital app, exemplifying eco-friendly and innovative ways to reach target groups. Mr. Nelson Neumann, President of Pastoral da Criança, said “The implementation of the toolkit is the beginning of our great challenge of not only getting this important material to hundreds of families that need it, but to millions of them, in the most diverse regions of Brazil. In this initial stage, we will have the implementation in the South Region, including the participation of Haitian migrants, and in the Amazon Region.” Shanti Ashram in India plan to implement the Toolkit in their Bala Shanti schools for early childhood, training educators and faith actors, as well as working with a network of parents and caregivers in Tamil Nadu. Dr. Vinu Aram, President of Shanti Ashram and Founder of the International Center for Child and Public Health (ICPH) has been an active member of the Consortium since its inception. “We at Shanti Ashram are thrilled to collaborate with Arigatou International, and wider Consortium members, in adapting and embedding the toolkit in our Bala Shanti Programme,

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Groundbreaking Resource to Protect Children from Violence is Launched in Rome

News & Blog Home News & Blog Groundbreaking Resource to Protect Children from Violence is Launched in Rome November 18, 2022 On 18 November 2022, the Consortium on Nurturing Values and Spirituality in Early Childhood for the Prevention of Violence launched an innovative Toolkit for the protection of children from violence and the promotion of their holistic well-being, focused on nurturing the spiritual development of children in the early years.  Early childhood lays the foundation for health, well-being, learning and productivity throughout a person’s life, and it has an impact on the health and well-being of the next generation. Yet, in silence and secrecy, many young children suffer from the diverse forms of violence inflicted upon them, and very often violence is justified and condoned by social and cultural norms in their communities. A distinguishing feature of this Toolkit is the linkage it makes between spiritual development and the protection of children from violence. It makes this case by presenting research on the impact of violence against children in the early years, and by describing how nurturing children’s spiritual development acts as a means to promote safe, respectful, violence-free environments, build positive relationships between parents, caregivers, educators and children, and equip adults in these roles to create empowering experiences for children.  This in turn creates the conditions to nurture children’s spiritual development.  “The cause of nurturing the spiritual development of children is an opportunity to protect children from violence. At the same time, it is also an opportunity for healing — for restoring and affirming the dignity of those children whose sacred right to freedom from violence has been violated — and for collaboration to support their flourishing and well-being,” underlined Rev. Keishi Miyamoto, President of Arigatou International.  The Toolkit, titled “Nurturing the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years – A Contribution to the Protection of Children from Violence and the Promotion of Their Holistic Well-Being” aims to help equip faith actors to engage actively in the protection of children from violence in early childhood by supporting parents, caregivers, educators and communities to nurture children’s spiritual development and take an active role in addressing violence in early childhood.   “With the influential role of the faith communities, the toolkit can be used to break the silence and stigma around violence against children. It can also be used to question the social and cultural norms that condone violence against children in all settings, including in the circle of trust,” said Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, and a member of the International Consortium.  The spiritual development of children, addressed in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, is an under-researched and under-invested area in child development.  This Toolkit is a unique contribution to further understanding, investment and awareness about the critical importance of including the spiritual development of children as part of their holistic development and well-being.  The 22 members of the Consortium have committed to implementing the Toolkit and initiating a systematic process of monitoring and evaluation in several locations around the world that will help create evidence on the contribution of this area to the protection of children from violence.  The Toolkit was launched in Rome during the Symposium on Child Dignity – A Call to Action for Children on the Move held on 17 – 18 November 2022, in the framework of the celebration of the Annual World Day of Prayer and Action for Children. The symposium was organized by Arigatou International, UNICEF and 20 other partners, and hosted by the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, through the support of the Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care (IADC) and the Centre for Interreligious Studies. Leave a Reply Cancelar la respuesta Conectado como admin. Edita tu perfil. ¿Salir? Los campos obligatorios están marcados con * Message* Share vía Facebook Share vía Twitter Share vía Email Facebook Twitter Instagram Subscribe to our newsletter Copyright © 2022 CONSORTIUM, All rights reserved | Powered by Muto Studio

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Toolkit for Nurturing Spirituality in Children – Contributing to Children’s Holistic Development and Well-being

News & Blog Home News & Blog Toolkit for Nurturing Spirituality in Children – Contributing to Children’s Holistic Development and Well-being December 10, 2020 The International Consortium on Nurturing Values and Spirituality in Early Childhood for the Prevention of Violence is developing a Toolkit on the spiritual development of children in the early years to foster their well-being and help prevent violence in child upbringing. The Toolkit seeks to provide faith-based actors with concrete guidance, tools and examples about how to work with faith communities to nurture the spiritual development of children as well as to contribute to the prevention of violence in early childhood. The ultimate goal of this Toolkit is to contribute to children’s holistic development and well-being. This Toolkit will bring to light the work conducted by faith-based organizations and, more importantly, use the information collected from this pre-existing work to create a systemized and replicable set of activities that can be undertaken by faith leaders, and faith actors to build caregiving skills within communities as well as skills in nurturing spiritual development in children. The Toolkit focuses primarily on faith communities and the host of faith actors that encompass those communities. These targeted groups work with families and children at the community level. Thus, the roles undertaken by actors within these groups take on several different forms, depending on the context, the type of faith community, as well as the scale of work with children and families. While the recommendations from the Toolkit are aimed at faith-based communities the applications of these recommendations extend beyond this realm and can be incorporated into any programming which seeks to add a spiritual component to their interactions with children and families.  Four major and interrelated areas are dealt with throughout the Toolkit: nurturing spiritual development, early childhood development, violence prevention, and the role of faith and Faith Actors. The members of the Consortium held an online meeting on 3 – 4 December 2020 to review the findings of the Toolkit, as well as identify its next logical steps. A major aspect of this discussion was how the current COVID-19 global pandemic has impacted early childhood development and how this toolkit can help address these issues. We would like to take a moment to recognize the contributions of all our partner organizations without whom none of this would have been possible; your commitment and dedication to the development of this Toolkit are truly remarkable and something for which we are eternally grateful. Leave a Reply Cancelar la respuesta Conectado como admin. Edita tu perfil. ¿Salir? Los campos obligatorios están marcados con * Message* Share vía Facebook Share vía Twitter Share vía Email Facebook Twitter Instagram Subscribe to our newsletter Copyright © 2022 CONSORTIUM, All rights reserved | Powered by Muto Studio

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International Consortium to Develop Toolkit on the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years

News & Blog Home News & Blog International Consortium to Develop a Toolkit on the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years May 6, 2020 The International Consortium on Nurturing Values and Spirituality in Early Childhood for the Prevention of Violence, created in 2018 by Arigatou International with the participation of 22 partners and individual experts, is engaged in developing a Toolkit on the spiritual development of children in the early years to foster their well-being and help prevent violence in child upbringing. The Toolkit is aimed at organizations working with religious communities but will also be flexible enough to be used by others interested in the spiritual development of young children. The purpose of the Toolkit is to develop capacities and capabilities of organizations, faith leaders, key actors, and community representatives that work with parents and caregivers, teachers and children. The Toolkit will include a framework that highlights the elements that support the spiritual development of young children, with consideration of different age groups; guidelines on how organizations can integrate the spiritual development in the early years in their existing and new holistic development interventions, strengthening understanding of the impact of violence on young children through research and empirical evidence; good practices from organizations, case studies and resources, as well as monitoring and evaluation guidelines.  A Technical Team composed of Arigatou International, Catholic Relief Services, Early Childhood Peace Consortium, Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace, Pastoral da Crianca in Brazil, UNICEF and World Vision International, will support the work of a consultant who will be leading this work.  The first technical meeting will take place from 2 – 4 June and it is expected that the Toolkit will be ready by the end of the year, following a consultative process with several stakeholders.  The International Consortium on Nurturing Values and Spirituality in Early Childhood for the Prevention of Violence, brings together civil society and faith-based organizations, religious communities, multilateral organizations, academia and individual experts to foster collaboration to share good practices and develop evidence-based and innovative approaches to end violence in early childhood and foster children’s well-being. The consortium focuses on children’s ethical and spiritual development through advocacy, research, the creation of tools, and replicable practices in religious communities that support parents, caregivers and the community as a whole in creating safe, healthy and loving environments that affirm children’s human dignity.  The consortium develops evidence-based materials to support holistic approaches to early childhood development that consider the external and structural factors that affect child upbringing. Leave a Reply Cancelar la respuesta Conectado como admin. Edita tu perfil. ¿Salir? Los campos obligatorios están marcados con * Message* Share vía Facebook Share vía Twitter Share vía Email Facebook Twitter Instagram Subscribe to our newsletter Copyright © 2022 CONSORTIUM, All rights reserved | Powered by Muto Studio