THE HUMAN SAFETY NET FOR FAMILIES

Parents have the greatest impact on their children’s development. The Families programme supports parents living in vulnerable circumstances in the first six years of their children’s life, to lay the strongest possible foundations for their future, contributing to early childhood development (ECD).

Who we are now is shaped in the first six years of our life: one million neural connections form every second at that age. By the time children start school, 90% of their brain is already fully developed. Day by day, the brain is built through early relationships, experiences and learning opportunities. These have a proven impact on children’s health, education and livelihoods for the rest of their lives.

Economists show us that supporting early childhood development is the best investment we can make in our children’s future.

The early years are also the most vulnerable: poverty, stress and neglect can hurt children’s chances in life. Around the world, 250 million boys and girls are at risk of not achieving their full potential. But even in great adversity, the best safety net for young children is a nurturing relationship with their parents.

Parents have the greatest impact on their children’s development. That is why The Human Safety Net for Families supports parents in vulnerable circumstances by investing in parenting courses and centres. Over 3 to 12 months, parents learn how they can nurture their children’s development every day. They become more confident and cope better with emotions and stress. Families also connect with each other as well as with relevant services. The programmes shows parents how to spend quality time with their children through activities such as reading and play. These are simple practices and behaviours that have a proven impact on children’s development. Finally, parents benefit from workshops and counselling on key topics like health, hygiene and nutrition.

This way, we empower parents to build a brighter future for their children.