Mar, 2015
Anera’s early childhood development (ECD) program involves a child’s holistic growth, including cognitive, social, emotional and physical.
The earliest months and years of life are considered the most important developmental phase in the human lifespan. A key to building a vibrant, generous society is providing children the tools for critical thinking, tolerance and understanding.
Creating stimulating and safe learning environments is an important part of Anera’s ECD work across Palestine. Palestinian preschools often are overcrowded, dilapidated, and lack facilities such as playgrounds, reading corners, and educational books that encourage positive learning experiences. Classrooms are poorly lit, lack proper ventilation, and do not meet safety and health standards. While many preschools have play areas, playground equipment is in short supply and safety levels are poor.
Anera works to improve conditions at preschools by making them safer, more child-appropriate, and cheerful learning environments. Since 2009, Anera has renovated more than 100 preschools in Gaza and the West Bank, making water fountains and bathrooms more child-friendly, replacing roofs, painting classrooms, installing new blackboards, repairing and brightening playgrounds, installing sun shades over play areas, and erecting water tanks for clean drinking water.
Featured here are a few before and after images from Ramadeen, Burj and Fawwar – three schools in remote, under-served areas of southern West Bank. Funding for the renovations came from Dubai Cares.
