Early Childhood Development Initiative

What’s new:

Ba Futuru early childhood team has been spent the last several months working hard to develop a new parenting initiative. It will equip current and future parents of preschool-aged children with an understanding of child-centred learning and practical ways to be actively engaged in their children’s educational development impacting children across Timor-Leste.

Learning life skills Ba Futuru’s Preschool:

We place high importance on eco-literacy and social-literacy at our preschool.  This involves learning alongside others through nature play to foster peaceful, co-operative learning outcomes for children.  It is the teachers’ aspirations for children to be creative, happy, productive members of their community.  Recently the children and adults have planted seeds, cared for them, transported seedlings to our garden and harvested vegetables.  Children now understand that food doesn’t just appear at the table, it is grown, tended to, harvested and then cooked by many caring hands.  Gardening children are focused, communicating, and working together towards a common goal.  By giving children knowledge and skills for caring for the environment we will create a better future for our children. 

Through the opportunity to attend preschool children not only develop skills for reading and writing but also valuable skills for life. 

Match your gift:

Gifting a child a scholarship is much more than preparing them for school.  We invite you to continue to support the most important early years in a child’s life. 

Bonus day:
EVERY donation will be matched on Global Giving on May 13th between 9:00 am EDT and 23:59 pm EDT. 

Thank you for your contributions!

The new year has begun by welcoming Justine Davies, an early childhood education specialist from New Zealand to our team at the Ba Futuru preschool.  With Justine’s experience in developing successful early childhood program’s, teacher training and parent education we are excited to expand our knowledge and services.  We have recently settled many new children into our early childhood programme.  The children are now comfortable with our regular routines such as hand washing and brushing their teeth on arrival and have regular healthy meals.

Q is a four year old girl who has sponsorship and has been attending Ba Futuru for two years.  Q has developed into a confident and capable student who has learnt to write all the children’s names in the class, she can also count to 50, understands English and can sound out each letter – she has learnt to read.  Q will be attending primary school at the end of the year and she is academically, physically, socially and emotionally prepared.

Ba Futuru focuses on the skills children need to succeed at school through holistic play-based programmes and responsive teachers.  Our priorities are supporting community needs through inviting contribution and empowering all learners, offering a sense of ownership and inclusion.  We are very excited to be implementing the new Timor-Leste early childhood curriculum.

Our preschool at Ba Futuru currently caters for over twenty students, half of them community children who need scholarships urgently.  These children are from very low income homes and at risk of neglect and abuse.  More than ever the children need scholarships so their education can continue.  Please sign up for a small monthly donation and give a child the right to education.  Thank you for support of the Timorese children.  

Links:

• preschool website