When it comes to development, there is no better place to start than with children. “If we want any of our other development efforts to succeed, it's really important to start with those early years,” said USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Bama Athreya. That’s because children who experience adverse conditions in early childhood can face a lifetime of problems.
“The early childhood years, 0 to 3 are the time when the most brain development takes place, and there are times when children need 24/7 care,” said Deputy Assistant Administrator Bama Athreya.
“If you've ever taken care of a child, you know what an incredible amount of attention young children need in order to thrive. So, we want to make sure that they have the best possible environment to thrive.”
This is where the U.S. government’s new five-year program, Strategy for Children to Thrive, comes in.
USAID, which leads this effort, supports a number of activities at community levels that are focused on early childhood development. “For example, we are partnering with an accelerator in South Africa that is investing in women entrepreneurs,” said Deputy Assistant Administrator Bama Athreya.
“Women entrepreneurs are setting up childcare centers. … What we've done in these centers in South Africa is work with those entrepreneurs to improve the quality of the educational services they're providing to these young children. Women who did not previously have experience in early childhood development are learning how to set up schedules for the children that involve play and rest. Age-appropriate activities that maximize their potential future development.”
“Another example of how USAID is investing in building strong beginnings is our recently announced partnership for a Lead-Free Future,” said Deputy Assistant Administrator Athreya.
“One in three children worldwide are suffering from the effects of lead exposure. A lot of that exposure happens in the early childhood years, and it affects these children's lifelong development. By removing lead and other environmental toxins from a child's environment in those early childhood years, we are helping to ensure that they have the ability to thrive in later life.”
“We want to walk the walk and show that we are focused on these problems for our own children and our own communities,” said Deputy Assistant Administrator Athreya, “just as we work with partner governments and others to ensure that we're keeping children safe worldwide.”
