Early childhood development as a pathway to sustainable community development

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated the possibilities of early childhood development (ECD) as pathway tosustainable community development by means of a literature survey and practical research. Themain objectives were to determine the usefulness of integrated, ecological ECD as entry point tosustainable community development, to determine how this might be achieved and to reflect on thebenefits and limitations of sustainable community development through ECD.A review of the literature emphasized the importance of ECD, as early childhood is foundational forthe establishment of lifelong skills, knowledge, values and attitudes. The need to enhancecapabilities for sustainable development from a young age is becoming increasingly urgent as theworld braces itself for a future likely to be characterised by a 'global polycrisis' which includes climatechange, resource depletion, poverty and food security. Integrated, ecological ECD exposes childrento a worldview that acknowledges complexity and interdependence. This contributes to their abilityto be agents of change that imagine and create alternative futures on community, national andglobal levels. Conceptualising ECD spaces as integrated ecological 'hubs' for sustainable communitydevelopment is a way of enhancing community capabilities for sustainable development byfacilitating synergies between various projects, promoting intergenerational learning and ensuringthat children are central to all community development initiatives.The practical research focused on the Lynedoch Crèche as a working example of an integrated,ecological ECD 'hub' for sustainable community development. The purpose of this case study was tocontribute to the attainment of the research objectives by balancing theory with the intricacies ofpraxis. The main findings of the case study pertain to the need to inform ECD by a deeply ecologicaland integrated worldview that places children at the centre of sustainable community development.The importance of deriving context-specific methodologies and solutions that stem from an intricateknowledge of the socio-ecological environment was emphasized. The research indicated that thecore challenges to this approach relate to capacity, leadership, financial viability and institutionalarrangements.The conclusions drawn from the literature survey and the practical research suggest a useful role forECD as entry point for sustainable community development. I further conclude that there is no singleconception of what an integrated, ecological hub for sustainable development might entail. Rather,these 'hubs' must be born from worldviews rooted in complexity and interdependence and anecological educational paradigm that is inspired and informed by the local socio-ecologicalenvironment. The principle benefit to this approach relates to the fact that community capabilitiesfor children-centred sustainable development are enhanced in concurrence with the high qualityecological education of its children. The greatest limitation of this approach is that its success hingesupon the capacity of teachers to fulfil multiple roles and provide leadership in largely uncharteredterritory.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University