Early Childhood Development for Burmese Refugees - WEAVE

The overall objective of WEAVE's work in early childhood development is to ensure that displaced Burmese children from the ages of 2 to 6 have access to quality early childhood programmes which provide the foundations to develop their physical, emotional, intellectual, and creative potentials. Pre-school children attend nursery school centres where teachers provide care and a safe environment for the children. In addition, WEAVE utilises an inclusive education approach to include children with special learning needs.

In its Early Childhood Development Project, WEAVE trains local teachers so that the community’s skills for supporting schools and children are improved in the long term to increase sustainability of community programmes and decrease reliance on non-governmental organisations (NGOs). WEAVE also provides capacity building to trainers so that they can teach parents about child care and development, children's rights, special education, and teaching techniques. WEAVE also encourages the parents to actively participate in the development of the potentialities of their children, so that there is a continuity of approach in the nursery school and at home. Women leaders are trained in project management in order to make sure that the project is sustainable.

In December, 2011, WEAVE introduced the children’s book "Festivals in Burma" with a launching event entitled Celebrating Diversities. The event was highlighted with presentations on various ethnic Burmese dances, music, and food, as well as ethnic fashion shows. The book's purpose is to remind children of the cultural traditions of their homeland. The launch event also featured a storytelling portion to nursery school children.

Education, Children, Population, Rights

WEAVE works with over 4,500 pre-school children in over 50 nursery schools managed by ethnic Burmese women’s organisations inside and outside of the refugee camps along the Thai-Burma and China-Burma borders. WEAVE projects are based in Karen and Karenni refugee camps. WEAVE also extended humanitarian assistance to RANIR (a network of community-based organisations in Laiza, Kachin State) to support displaced young school children.