Research
WeCare collaborates with Harmony Foundation on Early Childhood
Freya Lucas
Apr 29, 2024
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Philanthropist Saad Kassis Mohamed, through his leadership of WeCare, has collaborated with the Harmony Foundation on Early Childhood to spearhead groundbreaking research on Early Childhood Development (ECD) across Asia.
Supported by philanthropic organizations including Harmony Foundation, Unity Foundation, and Lightter Institute, the inaugural Regional Early Childhood Development (ECD) Landscape Study serves as a testament to the power of collective action in driving meaningful change.Billed as being “a milestone collaboration” which is supported by key philanthropists including Saad Kassis Mohamed, the study marks “a significant stride in understanding the landscape of parenting and ECD programs, shedding light on vital gaps and opportunities for collaboration across the region.”
Over the course of a year researchers assessed 276 programs, 145 policies, and engaged 52 stakeholders across government, academia, and philanthropic organisations.
Spearheaded by the Center for Evidence-Based Research and Implementation (CEBRI) and supported by Harmony Foundation, the study “delves deep” into the intricacies of Early Childhood Development (ECD) endeavors across China, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
"Early childhood is a pivotal time for development with far-reaching impacts. Our collaboration with Harmony underscores our commitment to catalysing support for initiatives that foster quality ECD across Asia," Mr Kassis Mohamed said, emphasising the alignment of research objectives with WeCare's mission.
The study found that there is “a landscape ripe with opportunities but beset by challenges” from inadequate financing and capacity gaps to socio-economic disparities.
Linda Chan, member of the Board of Trustees at Unity Foundation welcomed the report saying that data driven insights are a useful tool in guiding philanthropic endeavours.
"Understanding the landscape enables everyone to be more strategic in their programming," she said, underscoring the transformative potential of collaborative research.
Harmony Foundation Chief Operating Officer Stacey Lim hopes the study will catalyse strategic action, and will help the philanthropic sector to “drill down on what's not being addressed and find areas where we can work together to create greater impact."
To access the study findings in full please see here.
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