Van Leer Foundation’s Post

In 2022, the NGO Associação Casa dos Curumins purchased a property in San Paolo, #Brazil, which today houses 100 children aged 4 and 5. Since considerable renovation work was needed, #Montanstahl supported the project by financing the purchase of furniture and cabinets for the children's classrooms. In Brazil, under the age of 6 public schooling is offered only half-time, leaving young children without care and #education for a large part of their day and thus making them vulnerable to the logics of poverty and human degradation around them. To fill this gap, the facility runs as an after-school program, welcoming 100 children in this age group every day. The costs of the first year of the project (2024) will be entirely borne by the #Association without support from public bodies. The hope is to establish a collaboration with the São Paulo Secretariat of Education that, from 2025, could amend the public policy at a national level. A long bureaucratic path lies ahead, but the #NGO is confident that they will receive a contribution to cover about 80% of the project annul costs and so achieve long-term sustainability. And then what? Nothing less than turning the Project into a full-time school!

Our homes shape our lives and our communities for generations to come. That's why we've revisited projects from the last 50 years of HAC. How does a home change lives two decades later? Find out in Rural Voices: https://loom.ly/IiOHcGg

I threw together some thoughts on the 1010 Somerset project, the value of public consultation, and where we go from here. Thanks to everyone who has reached out over this last year about this development, which will be pivotal for West Centretown. https://lnkd.in/egbVgKtM

In the midst of the NT’s punitive "tough on crime" policies, Decolonising Child Protection: Severing Unhealthy Ties and Restoring Secure Attachments highlights a critical need to trust and empower Yolŋu communities. This report shows how mainstream systems often harm rather than help, while Yolŋu kinship (Gurruṯu) offers a proven framework for raising strong, connected children. Yolŋu leaders are calling for change: systems designed by Yolŋu, for Yolŋu, built on shared decision-making, cultural respect, and community-led solutions. While contexts outside Arnhem Land may differ, the principles of trust, cultural alignment, and community empowerment are universal. It’s time to rethink punitive approaches and invest in culturally grounded, long-term solutions. Let’s listen to communities, amplify their voices, and trust them to lead. Read the report and be part of the change. #DecolonisingChildProtection #CommunitySolutions #NTPolitics #CulturalLeadership #YolŋuVoices

Our schools are not producing the productive and respectful citizens our country needs. Why is this happening? The answer is clear! What can you do about it? #schools #SocialStability #CommunityBuilding #JudeoChristianValues #Restoringorder

The Office of Public Works (OPW) was hoping the €336,000 bicycle shed at Leinster House could become a model design to be adapted and reused at other historic properties. New documents also detail how the OPW looked at prefabricated shelters for the parliamentary complex but “none were found suitable for [the] location.” Our latest records available at: https://lnkd.in/efMsFrDy #ireland #politics #opw #publicexpenditure #foia #freedomofinformation #transparency #righttoknow

A comprehensive strategy is required to close the learning gap and ensure equal opportunities for all students. This strategy should integrate policy reforms, active community engagement, and innovative teaching practices: https://bit.ly/456Qnpz #EducationForAll #EqualOpportunities #PolicyReform #CommunityEngagement #InnovativeTeaching #BridgingTheGap #AcademikAmerica

You've got to read this article and follow Dr Hawa Noor Z. to buy her very relevant new book. I'm back to wake people up. The most unconscious error Kenyans are making is not realizing the extent to which we've been made complicit in our own misery. Walai. It's the time of the year where Kenyans down to the wards of every county are invited to create a priority list of how their specific allocation for the financial year 2024/2025 will be spent. This process involves both the county and national government. Tell me why this forum is monopolized by MCAs? Riddle me why there's no dissemination of documentation pertaining to the financial year 2023/2024? Explain to me like Oscar Sudi (who has missed over 88 parliamentary sittings with no consequence) why the only TALKING AT constituents pertains to only brick and motar projects- roads, bridges, culverts, storm drains, roads, roads, roads and roads. Since constituents are treated with contempt and disdain, it's the reason why these county and national government types are telling their constituents to form contractor inspection committees to oversight contractors. There's no full circle to this dog-catching-tail. It's a distraction shrouded as grassroot engagement. No mention of Human Development Indexes- full kitting of level 4 hospitals and other dispensaries with staff, equipment and consumables, offering incentives to schools for pupils to enrol for basic education- food, pads, paying special/ essential/extra teachers through B.O.Ds, a public cemetery, creating accessibility for the differently abled, public green spaces for leisure and downtime, waste management, incentives for farmers, a farmers market, non-clinical mental and behavioral health, Every county has a comprehensive 2023/2028 strategic development plan. Projects is the song sang that we've all heard with our ears but our eyes can confirm there's not a thing that has improved our quality of life. If you listen to the lyrics of this projects song, all you'll hear is this, " If you want to make a kill no matter who you kill, launch a project. Rush through the procurement process making sure to dot the TEAS and the EYES. Get a contractor who understands how business is done. If you fail to, frustrate the traitor till the honest company is auctioned, kills self or both preferably. A budget of 40 30 20 10 is for povos. We don't do budgets because 100% is ours to splurge. Contract with the contractor is state secret- a matter of national security, you see. Mine not yours. You I've made into my Papa Shirundula. Run my fool's errand you full of starry eyes 4 me. Twinkle twinkle and its not a little star. I am the entire galaxy and clap harder as you go around me. Louder. Palms are bruised? If only there was a functioning hospital. Fundraise. Halt I must approve. Aren't you dead yet? Other Kenyans standing in line to replace you." https://lnkd.in/dJ4VFDqC

  We're announcing the singing of the MoU with Klina Municipality, boosting our commitment to youth & education through "Let's Debate Change." This partnership marks a pivotal phase, enhancing students' debate skills & community involvement. Stay tuned for more information! #LetsDebateChange #PartnershipForChange #YouthEmpowerment #DebateAndDevelop #KlinaInitiative #KlinaMunicipality #SolidarSuisseSEE #DKAKline #DKRSKline

Habitat Forum (INHAF) invites you for a webinar on Child and City: Are, Cities as they Grow and Develop, Fair to Children? on 22nd August 2024 at 6 PM IST. INHAF's webinar series explores cities from various perspectives like low-cost housing, water supply, and energy. The upcoming webinar will focus on evaluating cities through the lens of children's rights. Beginning with Eglantyne Jebb’s activism in 1919, the child rights movement culminated in the UNCRC in 1989. India ratified the convention in 1992 and parallelly formulated policies like the Juvenile Justice Act and RTE Act in alignment with UNCRC principles. Despite significant strides like the establishment of ChildLine, challenges persist, with urbanization impacting children negatively. Cities lack child-friendly infrastructure, posing risks. It's imperative to prioritize children, involving citizens in planning for a better future. It's time to act with empathy and expertise to ensure a safer, more inclusive environment for children. Rethinking Cities Webinar Series: 119 Date: 22nd August 2024 Time: 6 PM IST Registration Link: https://lnkd.in/gqexP6b9 #rethinkingcities #webinar119 #childandcity