Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 1

            I have expanded my efforts to three more early childhood professionals but still no response.  So I will use the podcast alternative for this week’s assignment.  I chose to learn about Irma Allen and Susan Lyon.  After listening to the podcasts, I researched both of them online to see if it is possible to reach either of them and to learn more about their professional accomplishments and if and how their work deals with the issue of poverty.  I found an email for Susan Lyon but do not know if I will get a response or not.

            Irma Allen has dedicated much of her life and work to children, families and projects in Swaziland, Africa.  She is the Chairperson for the Environment Authority of Swaziland and is a member of the Nature Action Collaborative for Children, the World Forum.  Her work is very involved with the education and development of young children, teacher preparation, program evaluations, and the development of curriculum.  She promotes the integration of learning about and experiencing the environment in all levels and forms of education, especially with young children (World Forum Foundation Radio, n.d.).

            When I listened to the podcast, she was describing when at a function for a teacher that was retiring from an early childhood program in Swaziland a man showed up and was watching.  He eventually came over and spoke with her about his experience as a student there when he was a young child.  He spoke of remembering a lady that was open armed and smiling when he first came as an orphan.  He said that the welcoming, safe feeling in the center allowed him to begin to appreciate his home and country, especially the environment.  He said those childhood experiences have impacted his whole life and what he has been able to accomplish.  He thinks back often to those times when he felt so cared for and learned to appreciate what was around him (World Forum Foundation Radio, n.d.).  The environment and nature is free for us to experience, even those surrounded by poverty.  He is a perfect example of what can be gained with just someone to make them feel cared for and valued.

            The Nature Action Collaborative for Children writes and publishes a newsletter that is published in the Exchange.  These newsletters contain several articles in each issue from early childhood professionals all over the world.  The site to access these newsletters is www.worldforumfoundation.org/nature .  There is an article by Irma Allen in the May/June 2010 issue on the subject of developing caregivers during her work in Swaziland (Allen, 2010).  The subject of poverty and equity concerns and how programs have been successful in Uganda at providing supports that lead to success in school and life for children in these programs are described in an article by Nandyose (2011). 

            Susan Lyon was the founder of the Innovative Teacher Project and has done extensive work with the Presidio Child Development Center and the San Francisco public school system (World Forum Foundation Radio, n.d.).  She is also known for her interest in Reggio Emilia and is one of the founders of the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (http://www.innovativeteacherproject.org/innovative/staff.php).  There are several resources available on this site for professionals interested in Reggio Emilia.  Her work with the San Francisco schools is described in depth at http://www.sfusd.edu/en/schools/school-information/2117.html .  There is a section dedicated to sustainability and environmental education.

            With each assignment our awareness of the challenges children face and our responsibility as professionals is brought to new levels.  As adults, we feel overwhelmed by these challenges at times and this should only make us more attuned to the feelings of the children who are living within these very overwhelming and often life altering circumstances.  We have the ability to make decisions and choices, they do not; they are dependent upon us to do the right thing for them.

References

Allen, Irma. (2010, May/June). Developing community ec caregivers. Newsletter of the Nature Action Collaborative for Children.  Retrieved from http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/working-groups/nature/newsletter/

Innovative Teacher Project. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.innovativeteacherproject.org/innovative/staff.php

Nandyose, Hadijah. (20100, September/October). Mobile outdoor classrooms. Newsletter of the Nature Action Collaborative for Children.  Retrieved from http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/working-groups/nature/newsletter/

SFUSD San Francisco Public Schools. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sfusd.edu/en/schools/school-information/2117.html

World Forum Foundation Radio. [Audio podcast]. (n.d.). [With Irma Allen]. Retrieved from http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/get-involved-2/world-forum-radio/

World Forum Foundation Radio. [Audio podcast]. (n.d.). [With Susan Lyon]. Retrieved from http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/get-involved-2/world-forum-radio/