Toolkit on Nurturing the Spiritual Development of Young Children in the Early Years
A Contribution to the Protection of Children from Violence and the Promotion of Their Holistic Well-Being
Young girl in prayer. Photo 231671152 / World Day © Grower More | Dreamstime.com
About
On 17–18 November 2022, an assembly of global leaders from interfaith communities and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) gathered in Rome, Italy to observe the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, observed each year on the 20th of November. The assembly participated in a special two-day symposium, convened by Arigatou International and co-hosted by the Pontifical Gregorian University, and collaborators from over 18 global organizations, including the Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC).
The symposium was in response to an urgent wake-up call made to world leaders by U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, on the record milestone of over 100 million displaced people who have been forced to flee from situations of violent conflict (UNHCR, 2022). The president of Arigatou International Rev. Keishi Miyamoto, relayed the call to the global faith community that assembled in Rome to identify solutions to this ‘unprecedented’ humanitarian crisis, in particular, the urgent needs of the 36.5 million children who have been forcibly displaced (UNHCR, 2022).
Dr. Siobhán Fitzpatrick, ECPC Regional Vice Chairperson and Chairperson of the International Network on Peacebuilding for Young Children (INPB), and Mr. Mark Feeney, ECPC Expert Support Group member and Program Consultant for the Early Years — The Organisation for Young Children in Northern Ireland, joined with delegates from across the globe to attend the onsite interfaith symposium. Dr. Rima Salah, ECPC Chairperson and Former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations gave a remote opening keynote address on Day 2 of the event.
The symposium focused on the importance of turning prayer into action, the importance of faith communities acting together, and the critical role of partnership when working in the interests of children.
Toolkit on Nurturing the Spiritual Development of Young Children in the Early Years
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The symposium launched the first-of-its-kind Toolkit on Nurturing the Spiritual Development of Young Children in the Early Years, under the guidance of the international Consortium on Nurturing Values and Spirituality in Early Childhood for the Prevention of Violence, of which the ECPC is an active member.
The key theme was, that until now, spirituality has largely been ignored in the science of child development, even though it is referenced in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The new Toolkit will put spirituality at the center of holistic development, not just faith development.
“The Toolkit aims to help equip faith actors to engage actively in the protection of children from violence in early childhood and the promotion of children’s holistic well-being by supporting parents, caregivers, educators, and communities to nurture children’s spiritual development and take an active role in addressing violence in early childhood”.
The symposium also marked the celebration of the adoption of the new resolution by the 77th U.N. General Assembly (UNGA), which established 18 November of each year as World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence (A/RES/77/8).
Multimedia
ECPC endorses Toolkit on Nurturing the Spiritual Development of Young Children at World Day Symposium in Rome
► READ the full ECPC News report by Dr. Siobhán Fitzpatrick.
► Watch the opening remarks made by keynote speakers:
- Rev. Keishi Miyamoto — President, Arigatou International (See: time mark 1:06:42)
- Dr. Rima Salah — Chair, Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC); Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale Child Study Center; Former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations (See: time mark 1:12:50).
- Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid — Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children; ECPC Executive Committee Member (See: time mark 1:18:26)
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