It takes you to a list of
current early childhood research conducted by students in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Because I am of Ghanaian descent, the study that caught my attention was Development
of a Model Framework for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in their Early Years
in Ghana by Susan Sabaa.
As we know, there are many third-world countries in Africa where issues like poverty, hunger, homelessness, Orphism, and lack of clean drinking water are very prevalent. In this project study, Susan Sabaa explores the possibility of creating a model framework for care of orphans and vulnerable children that fulfill their developmental needs. The concept behind this project is that orphans must be provided with a nurturing environment and specialized support for optimal early childhood development that meets their particular emotional and psychosocial needs as well as other developmental requisites (Sabaa, 2002).
This is what Early Childhood professionals do in the United States as well. We create systems to meet the needs of vulnerable or at risk children through familial and community supports and services, Individualized Education Plans that focus on the social, emotional, developmental, or academic needs, and governmental assistance. In the U.S. Orphism is addressed through familial intervention, foster care, and adoption initiatives. In Ghana, many children become orphaned when their parent(s) die from Aids (Sabaa, 2002). Familial supports are not so readily available as many family members live in poverty or have died from Aids as well. Children are then placed in institutions, which Sabaa is not a fan of because they often fail to meet the most basic early childhood developmental needs of the orphan (2002). She feels that institutions do not provide the bonding and attachment young children need to be emotionally sound. According to Sabaa, “Despite good physical and social care, the absence of a bonded primary caregiver may adversely affect the development of the child. It is my contention that the care-giving setting for orphanages must be made to reflect the home setting as much as possible with tender loving care practices well upheld” (p 13).
In the United States, all restrictive institutions/orphanages have been closed and children including orphans and those with disabilities are placed in the least restrictive environment possible. Deinstitutionalization occurred in the US between 1941 and 1980 (Crenson, 2001). It is the process of reforming child care systems and closing down orphanages and children's institutions (Crenson, 2001). While there has been progress made in Africa in regards to closing private orphanages, they still exist and this study in large part focuses on building a framework where orphans can come out on top with minimal damage to their development---especially since it is so prevalent in Africa.
It’s what all committed early childhood educators strive to do around the world—minimize the damage and empower our children to be great. The issue of early child care and development is gaining more importance as our societies become more knowledgeable about child development and care.
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