Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

              

 It is easy to only consider what happens in early childhood classrooms in the US because it is home.  However, there are many organizations that consider early childhood classrooms on an international level.  This week’s blog is intended to detail three of these organizations and discuss available jobs in the early childhood field that are on an international level.

    ACEI        The Association for Childhood Education International is a not-for-profit organization “is interested in sharing new approaches to the education of children and ensuring that these approached are delivered in  ways that enhance children’s individual skills and abilities and provide opportunities for success in life”(acei.org).  Their slogan is Bright Futures for Every Child, Every Nation and they are reporters of international news regarding every aspect that concerns early childhood education on an international level. 

            ACEI is a global community of educators and advocated who unite knowledge, experience, and perspectives in order to exchange information, explore innovation and advocate for children.  Their mission is to promote and support in the global community the optimal education, development and well-being of children, from birth through early adolescence, and to influence the professional growth of educators and efforts others who are committed to the needs of children (acei.org).  They have a vision that every child will be provided a quality education to prepare them to be responsible citizens in a world that constantly changes.  Membership to ACEI is available in 7 different levels in order to meet the individual needs of educators.  ACEI is also the promoter of a campaign called Love me, Teach me that is an advocacy effort to raise awareness of the needs and rights of children.

OMEP

World OMEP or World Organization for Early Childhood Education is a not-for-profit organization that has national committees in over 70 countries.  They have a committee in USA that is concerned with the children’s rights, education and care in the US.  Their slogan is “making a difference for children at home and around the world” (http://www.omep-usnc.org/).  The organization is a made up of “college professors, preschool teachers, primary-grade teachers, school administrators, social workers, psychologists, doctors, nurses, policy makers, administrators, journalists, physical therapists, librarians, lawyers, policymakers, college students, volunteers, parents, grandparents, advocates, and activists.” (http://www.omep-usnc.org/).  They have a goal of ensuring that children from birth to age 8 are well taken care of, rights are enforced and are recipients of an education.  OMEP is the oldest and largest international organization focusing on early childhood.  OMEP has Consultative Status with the United Nations, UNICEF, and UNESCO.

            OMEP-USA has current projects like a collaboration with UNICEF entitled WASH that seek to ensure that there is water, sanitation, and hygiene efforts in international early childhood settings, projects in Haiti and Japan after major earthquakes, Jamaica, Liberia, Belize, and a sponsors a Volunteer Service Day that is held in New Orleans.  

ISSA-The International Step by Step Association

            This is an international network that seeks to connect “professionals and non-profit organizations working in the field of early childhood development” (www.issa.nl).  Their aim is to “ensure equal access to quality care and education for all young children from birth to 10 years old” (www.issa.nl).  ISSA is involved with the formation of the Early Years Regional Alliance that is an international body of combined organizations that seeks to advance the agenda of early childhood while assisting in the promotion of education and the wellness of children from birth to age 8 and their families. 

The search for an International job was very scary for me; especially with the militia activity overseas.  However, I did find a job posted with World Vision International (WVI) that I am interested in applying for.  I am sure everyone has seen a commercial that World Vision International has aired for assisting children in foreign countries.  Well, WVI has a position open for an Education Transition Project Manager in Washington, DC.  The position is contracted for two years and the posting would include help for a family.  The project manager would serve as the coordinator and communication lead for World Vision’s three-year education transition for National Offices (NOs) projects. This job requires the applicant to have a working knowledge of field operations, 2-3 years of project management, strong social and relational skills and a BA or MA in International Education.

The job posting can be viewed at https://jobs.wvi.org/webjobs.nsf/WebPublished/FA42C2816DFF5F3388257CDD005AA9D4?OpenDocument