Early Childhood Matters is now online! Read, discuss and share individual articles on a new dedicated website.
Community violence: The new edition of Early Childhood Matters, on the subject of Community violence and young children: making space for hope, looks at the effects on young children of growing up in a violent community, and explores interventions from around the world which are offering practical solutions.
Healthy environments: The latest in the Early Childhood in Focus series of briefing notes, co-published with the Open University, shows the importance of physical environment as intimately linked to the process of growth and development of skills and identity of the child.
The Bernard van Leer Foundation is an international grantmaking foundation based in The Hague.
Our mission is to improve opportunities for children up to age 8 who are growing up in socially and economically difficult circumstances. We see this both as a valuable end in itself and as a long-term means to promoting more cohesive, considerate and creative societies with equal opportunities and rights for all.
Latest news from the Bernard van Leer Foundation
Hand-in-Hand project covered in Dutch media
25-10-2005
The Centre for Jewish Arab Education's "Hand-in-Hand" schools and preschools, in which young Arab and Jewish children learn together, were featured in the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad (Dutch language, registration required).
KORDP's work in words and photos
24-10-2005
To celebrate the presentation of the Oscar van Leer Award to Kenya Orphans Rural Development Project (KORDP), the foundation has published a 54-page booklet. It describes in text and photos how KORDP's community-based work, supported by the foundation, improves the lives of HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children in rural communities in western Kenya.
Salzburg Seminar discusses ECD
21-10-2005
In a session co-chaired by the Bernard van Leer Foundation's executive director, Peter Laugharn, the Salzburg Seminar discussed early childhood development in a week-long conference earlier this month. The Salzburg Seminar is a non-profit organisation which aims to bring future leaders together to discuss global issues. Read more (link to Salzburg Seminar site opens in new window).
Melel Xojobal's new website
05-10-2005
Mexican partner Melel Xojobal has a new website (in Spanish). The foundation works with Melel Xojobal to improve the lives of street children in San Cristobal de las Casas.
Kenyan NGO wins Oscar van Leer Award
29-09-2005
The Oscar van Leer Award for 2005 has been awarded to the Kenya Orphans Rural Development Programme (KORDP) for its Community Support to AIDS Orphans project. The award will be presented at a ceremony in The Hague on 3rd November. Presented every two years, the award honours 'excellence in enabling parents and communities to help young children realise their full potential'. Read more
Conference on architecture and design for young children
22-09-2005
Bernard van Leer Foundation partner Children in Europe will hold a major international conference, Making space: architecture and design for young children, in Edinburgh on December 8-9. Among the speakers is Alison Clark from another foundation partner, Thomas Coram Research Institute, who will talk on children's participation.
Annual Report 2004 available
21-09-2005
The Bernard van Leer Foundation's Annual Report 2004 can now be ordered or downloaded.
Kinderwelten gets new website
21-09-2005
Foundation-funded project Kinderwelten has launched a new website (German language only). Kinderwelten works to promote respect for diversity in childcare services in Germany.
English website for Slovak mother centres
20-09-2005
The Union of Mothers Centres in Slovakia now has an expanded English section on its website.
Ex-Hine Fellow wins Soros support
19-09-2005
Eric Gottesman, graduate of the Hine Fellowships programme supported by the Bernard van Leer Foundation, has won a grant from George Soros's Open Society Institute to continue his photographic work documenting the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. The grant will enable Gottesman to take an exhibition of banners and photos around Ethiopia.
