Places to Grow and the untapped potential of early childhood development
Early childhood development, education and care (ECD/ECEC) is often underrated as a field capable of driving positive change. While I am far from an expert, my recent exploration into the domain of ECD/ECEC has been nothing short of eye-opening. My understanding primarily revolves around its capability to eradicate generational poverty, as that has been my point of learning. However, I am convinced that the scope and impact of ECD/ECEC extend far beyond this.
The potential of early childhood development
Early childhood development programs are not just educational initiatives; they are pivotal economic and social development strategies. While often overlooked in favor of other development projects, ECD/ECEC programs offer substantial public and private returns. Rolnick and Grunewald argue that ECD/ECEC programs should be prioritised at the top of economic development lists for state and local governments, as they yield high public and private returns, in contrast to many other initiatives that offer limited public benefits. Furthermore, Barnett’s research indicates that early childhood education, especially for children in poverty, not only enhances short-term cognitive performance but also produces long-lasting effects on achievement and academic success. The economic return from providing early education to children in poverty significantly outweighs the costs, making it a worthy investment. Research demonstrates that high-quality early learning programs can yield an ROI ranging between 7% to 13% annually per child, with the higher end of the range attributed to programs serving disadvantaged children from birth to five years old.
The challenge of early childhood development
Given the compelling evidence, it seems important to prioritise early childhood development. However, many places are falling short in this regard. This age is indeed the most vulnerable, yet it often receives the least support. Research indicates that children at this stage are rarely seen by ECD/ECEC professionals, and the support they receive is crucial for their development and the family’s ability to help them grow. Furthermore, families, especially those grappling with daily challenges, often lack the capacity or mental state to provide their children with the necessary support. A study in Malawi highlighted the significant benefits of integrating early childhood development programs into existing health services, emphasising the importance of such support for both children and their families. The lack of professional confidence in supporting parents’ mental health further exacerbates the challenge, leading to increased stress among key workers and high turnover rates in disability service settings.
Places to Grow
Holis serves as the backbone organisation for the program “Places to Grow”. My knowledge about ECD/ECEC has been enriched through this initiative. Places to Grow is a catalyst for excellence in early childhood development in Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary. It strengthens relationships between organizations active in social services, education, advocacy and research. Our mission is to create a collaborative community united by a single vision: to help every child realise their potential to contribute to society in the future.
Our overarching ambition is to set in motion systemic change within CEE, supporting ECD/ECEC to unleash the benefits it holds. However, achieving systemic change is a daunting task. Traditional models, which revolve around meticulous planning followed by execution, often stumble when faced with such complex challenges. This is primarily because we are navigating a ‘wicked challenge’ or a complex system. The Cynefin framework, a decision-making tool, categorises problems into simple, complicated, complex, and chaotic domains, emphasising that complex systems, like ECD/ECEC, require adaptive and emergent practices rather than mere planned approaches. If traditional models were a solution, the landscape would have transformed already, given the amount of plans we have across various sectors. The UNDP Accelerator Labs further underscore the importance of innovative solutions, collective learning and rapid testing to address systemic challenges and drive impactful change.
Core principles
Over the past few years, three core principles have profoundly influenced my perspective and, consequently, shaped the role of Holis as the backbone organisation behind Places to Grow.
Everything is relational. Everything operates within a network of relationships. Prioritising and nurturing these connections can yield significant dividends. While “collaboration” is a term easily thrown around, its effective implementation is challenging. It reminds me of the meticulous Japanese art of joinery, where precision and dedication are of the greatest importance. Investing time and effort into building these relationships is crucial for long-term success.
You are not alone. The notion of collective action holds the promise of amplified impact. A multitude of initiatives, often operating in silos, echo similar objectives or possess the potential to complement and support each other’s efforts. The Portfolio Approach advocated by the UNDP Accelerator Labs exemplifies this ideology, promoting a coordinated effort to harness the collective strength of diverse initiatives.
Embracing experimentation and learning: Rigid, long-term plans often falter in the face of unpredictability. In complex environments, the key to success lies in a cycle of trial and error, experimentation, and shared learning experiences, a sentiment resonated by the Cynefin Framework and the UNDP Accelerator Labs. Cynefin describes the nuanced landscape of complex systems, advocating for a contextualised, adaptive approach to navigate these systems. Similarly, the UNDP Accelerator Labs champion a spirit of innovation and iterative learning, encouraging an exploratory approach to find viable solutions to current challenges.
In the next blog post I will describe what happened so far, where we are, and what are the plans for the next 15 months.
If you are interested in what we do or want to join Places to Grow please get in touch!
