By Asha Emmerson | CEO, Country Director
Finally, in February, our little ones could go back to school. So many had been away from classroom learning for so long. The impact that has on our early learners is vast in many ways. The joy of seeing precious little faces back to the safety of learning is heart-warming. The knowledge that the safety provided is so much more than safety in learning is deeply intertwined in our “why” and in the “why” of so many of our early childhood development teachers who are SWATT TEAM members.
The consistent reinforcement of healthy body images, safety, and safe people and healthy touch that take place in classrooms are foundational to changing generational norms when it comes to sexual and gender-based violence in our communities. As little as they are, many of the children supported in our community early learning centers are exposed to experiences way beyond their years, from abuse to prostitution. The safety, love and care we can surround them with in their classrooms is not something we take for granted. We may not be able to remedy all of the hard challenges of life for these little ones, but in these classroom spaces, we can surround them with the fact that they are precious. We can teach them that they and their bodies are worthy of respect. We can guide them to find grown ups they can trust when they don't feel safe. We can assure them that they are not to blame for circumstances they face. We can hear them and honour their stories, and give them all the tools and space to share those stories when and how they choose to. The simplicity and complexity of this, is the way we get to impact generations.
No day is insignificant, and we do not take any day we get to invest in these precious lives for granted. No amount of support from you, our partners in investing in generations, is insignificant. We are grateful for every day you have supported us to accomplish the smallest of things with the greatest purpose.
By Asha Emmerson | CEO, Country Director
By Asha Emmerson & SWATT Community Members | CEO, Country Director
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