The International Networking Group on Peace Building for Young Children, is led by Northern Ireland's Early Years: the organisation for young children, and supported by the International Centre for Education and Human Development in Colombia (CINDE). It will bring together early childhood specialists, teachers, practitioners and academics from conflict and post-conflict regions around the world, and has received £610,000 from the European Union European Regional Development Fund as part of a programme called PEACE III.
The project aims to devise practice materials, a degree programme and strategies for reconciliation and peace-building with a focus on the early years sector.
Siobhan Fitzpatrick, chief executive of Early Years, said, 'Early Years is delighted to be leading on such an innovative and much needed project. There are specific challenges and problems facing those who work with young children in countries that are either experiencing or are emerging out of armed conflict.'
CINDE director Marta Arango said, 'There is an emerging body of innovative work taking place around the world in the early childhood sector which has the potential to make a difference to the lives of children and families affected by conflict. My colleagues and I are delighted to be back in Belfast to share the work we have been doing in Colombia to promote the development of young children through innovative solutions, research and the dissemination of experiences.'
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