Early child development programs operate based on the proven fact "that young children respond best when caregivers use specific techniques designed to encourage and stimulate progress to the next level of development," according to the World Bank. Early childhood is the most rapid period of development, and though each child develops at her own pace, all children progress through "an identifiable sequence of physical, cognitive, and emotional growth and change." Early child development programs prepare young children to develop and learn, and can change the development trajectory of kids when they enter school.
Save the Children
Save the Children serves children in the United States and around the world. The organization focuses on helping disadvantaged children grow up "protected and safe, educated, healthy and well-nourished, and able to thrive in economically secure households." Programs include health worker training, protection of vulnerable children from abuse or exploitation, disaster preparedness, and in the U.S., improving children's health through routine exercise and nutritious food.
CARE International
CARE initiates community savings-and-loan programs, especially those operated by women. CARE also promotes basic education to help mothers raise healthier children and have higher incomes. Specifically, CARE works alongside partners, communities and governments. Its activities include providing teacher and school personnel training. CARE also helps link education programs to health, nutrition and livelihood interventions so the factors that lead to children being out of school are addressed. In addition, CARE helps communities assess and face specific barriers to learning, and "conducting broad campaigns that promote the right to education for all people."
Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services, or CRS, promotes equality in access to quality basic education. The organization stands "in solidarity with the most marginalized populations" and works to affect "individual, structural, and systematic changes." CRS focuses on education activities in crisis areas, where it works with schools, and in transition areas and relatively stable areas, where it works with local "grassroots" organizations or partners. The organization works with social agencies of local Catholic churches and other faith-based organizations. CRS has had success with school food programs, which provide children with nutrition to improve their ability to learn. The school food programs also encourage enrollment and regular attendance.
