As I researched international organizations
this week, the Organisation Mondiale pour l’Education
Préscolaire (OMEP) immediately appealed to me. The organization name translates
to World Organization for Early Childhood Education and Care. OMEP consults
with both the UN and UNICEF to advocated for increased accessibility to high-quality
early care and education worldwide. Their main objective is to “to defend and
promote the rights of the child with special emphasis on the right to education
and care worldwide” (OMEP, n.d.). Their website lists 8 aims and objectives but
the one that stuck out most to me was “(4) Encouraging the training of
personnel for early childhood education and care” (OMEP, n.d.). Promoting a
high-quality, effective early childhood workforce is a passion of mine and I am
interested in what that looks like on a global scale.
As I learned about OMEP I stumbled upon
another organization that they collaborate with, the Consultative Group on
Early Childhood Care and Development (CGECCD). CGECCD describes themselves as a
“A global network advocating for increased attention to and investment in young
children” (CGECCD, n.d.). This organization emphasizes equitability in early care
and education, so they focus their efforts on young children and their families
living in “disadvantaged circumstances in low- and middle-income communities”
(CGECCD, n.d.). This especially appealed to me as I have lived and taught in both
Ghana and Uganda and have seen firsthand the effects of extreme poverty on child
development.
Another international organization
that appealed to me is UNICEF. UNICEF is renowned for being the advocating
voice for the human rights of children across the globe who cannot fight and
advocate for themselves. Education, particularly early childhood education and
development, is one of their most critical initiatives. Also, UNICEF was one of
the few organizations that I found to have career openings available. As I
perused their vacant positions, I was struck by the position of Programme Assistant
for the Education Section in New York. Qualifications for this position include,
but are not limited to:
- Completion of Secondary Education
(i.e. High School Diploma).
- A minimum of four (4) years of
progressively responsible work experience in an administrative capacity is
required.
- Working knowledge of UNICEF programme
policies and administrative and financial procedures is desirable.
- Passing the GGST Exam (Global General
Service Test) or UN ASAT in English is required.
- Fluency in English (verbal and
written) and knowledge of an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese,
French, Russian, Spanish)
Referenes
CGECCD. (n.d.).
Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Development. Retrieved from http://www.ecdgroup.com/
OMEP. (n.d.). Organisation
Mondiale pour l’Education Prescolaire. Retrieved from http://worldomep.org/
UNICEF. (n.d.).
United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/
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