Change a life: Empower a Community
Bringing happiness into homes is at the heart of the Early Learning Initiative (ELI) Parent Child+ programme.
In celebration of their achievements over the past 18 years, previous basis.point board director, Mike Hartwell, Deloitte Ireland, hosted an event showcasing the transformative work of the Early Learning Initiative (ELI) and the impact that can be achieved through partnership. The event highlighted how this collaboration changes the lives of children, families, and communities through responsive early education interventions.
Under the theme “Change a Life – Empower a Community,” Dr. Josephine Bleach shared the story of ELI and welcomed a panel of participants to share their experiences and the impact of ELI on their lives. This included two parents who benefited from home visiting and parent support programmes, and Robyn, one of the first children in the ParentChild+ programme, who is now studying at NCI.
Robyn encapsulated the essence of ELI’s mission when she expressed that her home visitor brought happiness to her home. Some of her earliest memories were of the home visits and were ones of happiness, largely due to the undivided adult attention she received from her home visitor and mother, during these visits.
Her wish for the future is that all children should experience this happiness. Sometimes, it’s the simple things that make the biggest difference.
Nadine and Louise emphasised how fortunate they felt to have benefitted from the programme. It can be very isolating for many young parents experiencing disadvantage which may often be exacerbated by other underlying issues. Having that regular connection to the local community is vital. Both Nadine and Louise shared how transformative this support had been and that their children, as a result of this support, are now thriving in school.
These lived experiences demonstrated the vital importance of inclusive early learning opportunities, parent support, and a continuum of educational support in changing the lives of children, families, and communities. The need is great and both Nadine and Louise emphasised that this support should be available to all children and not simply a function of address.
As the geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, the impact on Ireland, particularly on those who are not equipped to seek out education independently, underscores the increasing need for ELI’s services in changing lives through education. Please contact us if you are in a position to increase your level of giving. By pooling our resources and working in partnership, we can bring happiness into more homes and support our most at-risk families in mitigating the impact of day-to-day and systemic challenges on their children.
For more information please read the National College of Ireland State of the Moment Report, authored by Nikki Ryan, which reviewed both the ParentChild+ and Stretch Graduate Programmes.
