Exploring Roles in ECE: International Level
Plan International
The first international organization that I chose to explore was Plan International, one of the largest international organizations dedicated to helping children. Plan International, who is associated with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, works in over 50 developing countries and focuses their work on promoting children’s rights and raising them out of poverty. What I found extremely inspiring about this organization is their commitment to children and their view of the child as capable in taking “an active role in finding solutions to their problems and realising their full potential” (https://plan-international.org/about-plan).
The Vision of Plan International is “of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people’s rights and dignity” (https://plan-international.org/about-plan).
The Mission of Plan International is “to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries, through a process that unites people across cultures and adds meaning and value to their lives, by:
- enabling deprived children, their families and their communities to meet their basic needs and to increase their ability to participate in and benefit from their societies
- building relationships to increase understanding and unity among peoples of different cultures and countries
- promoting the rights and interests of the world’s children (https://plan-international.org/about-plan).
I also chose this organization because of the sponsorship support that I have provided this international organization. This past week I received a letter from a child from Ethiopia whom I have sponsored through Plan International for the past ten years. This spring she turned 18 years old, which means that my sponsorship for her will discontinue. Receiving her letter was a bit emotional as she has been a part of our thoughts and prayers for many years. Over the past ten years, through sponsorships such as my own, this young lady’s community now has a health care center, a school, and drinkable water through a pipe system. It has been an incredible feeling to be a part of such good work for this young woman’s community while also supporting her education and dream to one day become a doctor. This past week, I also received a letter from the mother of the new little girl that I will now be sponsoring. She is from Guatemala and I look forward to learning more about her and her community and the work that Plan International is doing in this area of the world. Receiving both of these letters reminded me that although we may not always be in a position to take our careers into international directions, we can still be involved through advocacy efforts and financial support.
A position that is currently available is an Education Project Director in Laos. Plan International is focusing on improving opportunities for children to participate in primary education in this county and this position involves responsibility for this project through the project’s design and implementation and the coordination of the many involved parties needed to make this project a success. In order to take on such a challenging role, Plan International suggests that applicants have experience working with primary education initiatives meant to improve learning and access. Therefore, I will need to have a strong understanding of educational initiatives in this area of the world and how to improve educational access. I will also need to be creative in my thinking in order to be a part of the design process, be skilled in multi-tasking as the project takes shape, and well-organized to monitor the several parties involved.
Unicef
“UNICEF works for a more equitable world by fighting for the rights of its future: children” (http://www.unicef.org/about/). I chose to further research this organization because of its well-known name and lengthy history and the understanding that such an organization would certainly be experiencing success in their efforts to support children throughout the world. They are an organization that has been working to better the lives of children for almost 70 years by providing shelter, nutrition, protection from violence and exploitation, prenatal care, clean water and sanitation, health care, and quality education. Unicef is completely supported by voluntary financial contributions and strongly believes that “all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential-to the benefit of a better world” (http://www.unicef.org/about/).
A position that is currently available with UNICEF is an Education Specialist in Liberia. This position assists in the development and management of education programs and projects within this country with a focus on improving learning outcomes, equitable access, and inclusive education for all children, but with a concentrated focus on those that are disadvantaged. In order to be successful in such a position, I would need a good understanding of UNICEF’s programming expectations, strategic planning skills, good management and leadership skills, great communication and relationship building skills, and knowledge of the area’s challenges.
International Step by Step Association
I chose to research the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) because it is one that I am unfamiliar with and thought this would be a great opportunity to expand my understanding of the work they do. As I explored their website, I learned that ISSA’s memberships include 50 countries that work to create equal access to quality and inclusive care and education for all young children. They work to cultivate professionalism in the field of early learning and care, foster social justice and respect for diversity, support family and community involvement in decisions affecting young children, build professional networks, and advocate for inclusive programming that addresses issues such as accessibility, equity, and quality.
“ISSA’s vision is a society where families, communities and professionals work together to empower each child to reach her or his full potential and embrace values of social justice and equity” (http://www.issa.nl/content/mission).
“ISSA’s mission is to support professional communities and develop a strong civil society that influences and assists decision makers to:
- provide high quality care and educational services for all children from birth through primary school (birth through 10 years old), with a focus on the poorest and most disadvantaged
- ensure greater inclusion of family and community participation in children’s development and learning
- ensure social inclusion and respect for diversity (http://www.issa.nl/content/mission).
Although I was unable to find any current job openings, the association’s website did provide some general information about different committee roles within the association. Of these different committee roles, the program director position that is responsible for planning and implementing programs was most attractive to me. This position requires a strong understanding of how to create equitable and quality programs and services, the ability to be an innovative thinker, the skill to collaborate and communicate with others in this planning process, and manage the many components to such global work.
Additional Information for each of these international organizations can be found at:
https://plan-international.org/
http://www.unicef.org/
http://www.issa.nl/