Van Leer Foundation

It’s not surprising that many parents in urbanised areas are struggling. Raising a child was once done by a whole village, but that task now falls on parents who have less social support than ever. Combine that with the pressure to be the “perfect parent”, and it’s a recipe for stress and anxiety in modern parenting.  👩👧👦Mothers especially carry the heavy burden of juggling work and child rearing responsibilities.    That’s why this edition of Early Childhood Matters highlights how we can best care for caregivers.   Across 24 articles, Early Childhood Matters 2023 showcases:   🤱 Why caregiver wellbeing matters 🧒🏽 Innovative ideas that are having a real impact on parents’ lives — from legislation to lullabies  😊 Expert analysis, personal perspectives, and real-world case studies on caregiver support   Download your copy of Early Childhood Matters 2023 here ⏩ bit.ly/ECM-2023-online Special thanks to Shindy Lestari for the video 🙌📽️   #ECM2023 #EarlyChildhoodMatters #EarlyYears #ChildDevelopment #ECD #PeopleBeforeParents 🌟 Andrew Bomback, karni Arieli, Harriet Shugarman, Anya Kamenetz, Fabrizio Zilibotti, Raquel Lyra, Eleanne Plaizier, Rasa Dawson, Angela Uytdewilligen, Sarah Johnson, Mohammad Awamreh, Hatem AlHmoud, Laura Miller, Anna Devereux, Marianne Abboud, Te Aro Moxon, Rita de Cácia Oenning da Silva, Chian Gong, Patrice Martin, Maria Isabel Amando de Barros, Zarlasht Halaimzai, Lucas Johnson, Michael Feigelson, Tanmoy Goswami, Alexis Camejo, Hannah Rothschild, Charlotte Davidi Rushda Majeed Andrea Torres Sansotta Irina Ivan-van der Kwaak Daniella Ben-Attar Mialy Dermish (she/her) Leontien Peeters Farah Jadallah Claudia Vidigal Agnita Twigt 🌟

As part of the #Zaha95 project, which aims to create safe, nurturing environments for children, caregivers, and the community, we’re excited to share a glimpse of our "Streets for Kids" intervention in Jordan. In August, the Zaha Cultural Center مركز زها الثقافي hosted a first phase "Geometry Test" intervention in Amman, bringing together representatives from the Greater Amman Municipality, Traffic Police, Public Security Directorate, Central Traffic Department, Community Police and local community members to collaboratively explore street safety measures and foster a stronger sense of community. Phase two starts next week, Monday 18 November 🚥 Farah Maher Jadallah Alia Mjally Alrawashdeh Rushda Majeed Victoria Chavez Global Designing Cities Initiative SUPERPOOL

🏡 Where children grow up matters. Quality, affordable housing is essential for fostering life-long health, learning, and meaningful connections between children and their caregivers. We are really proud that The Family Voices Toolkit, developed by ZCD ARCHITECTS LTD is now available for everyone to use. The toolkit was created to be a resource for investors, developers, city leaders and community engagement specialists to integrate babies, toddlers and caregivers' needs into urban projects. We are deeply thankful to our partners from our Mission-Related Investing Portfolio Bridges Fund Management Ltd. PATRIZIA SE Jonathan Rose Companies Ardstone Fabrix HUB The Earls Court Development Company who worked with us to pilot the toolkit and shared their learnings. Together we have built a tool that truly connects people and builds trust with local communities. Dinah Bornat, Director at ZCD Architects, led the toolkit's pilot sessions, shared that, “Parents’ voices matter, and when we listen, we understand what they need – safe play spaces for their children and places to connect with neighbours.” On 12 November, 80+ impact investors, developers, city leaders, architects, and enablers joined us at the launch event held at The Earls Court Development Company, all eager to enhance social impact and support inclusive communities. As Irina Ivan-van der Kwaak, the Van Leer Foundation’s Representative for Mission Related Investing noted, “By listening to communities, across the end-to-end development process, we can more authentically understand their priorities and identify meaningful ways of supporting them. This is what social value is all about.” Now available online: https://lnkd.in/gy5WpCrY The toolkit offers valuable insights and practical tools for engaging parents and caregivers in housing design. From session frameworks and creative materials to practical considerations like scheduling and childcare, it equips stakeholders to meaningfully involve families of young children to build better homes and neighbourhoods. Rushda Majeed Michael Feigelson Annemarie Poorterman Savvas Verdis Rebekah Paczek Marleen Bekkers Lori Stanlick Dawn Mottram Jonathan F.P. Rose Ivan Rodriguez Rob Heasman Hannah Rothschild Neil van der Meer Arushi Khandelwal Clive N. Debbie Whitfield Anna Shiel Sarah Teacher Mark Hall Christine Murray Georgina Makin-Smith Harriet Sutton Nabiha Qadir Laurence Neal Isabel Hayes (nee Scruby) Sam Sternin Video by Milo Cumpstey #FamilyVoicesToolkit #AffordableHousing #EarlyChildhood #SocialImpact #ESG #UrbanDevelopment

As leaders gather today in Azerbaijan for #COP29, this story from India—one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change—illustrates how building cities for young families can protect against the impacts of climate change 🌏 Drawing from evidence collected in a first-of-its-kind study on young children and climate change in #India, there is a world of possibilities where interventions to improve urban life for young children and their caregivers can also contribute to cities’ climate resilience. 👉 https://lnkd.in/ewrXZfX9 Prakash Kumar Paul Rushda Majeed Smart Cities Mission Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs ICLEI South Asia Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University WRI India Victoria Chavez Hannah Rothschild

📢 Calling on cities and local governments Join us on Day 3 of #WUF12 for the Networking Event 'It Starts with Children – Local Actions for Inclusive Urban Futures'. 📅 Nov 6, 15:00 – 16:30 📍 Multipurpose Room 16 We’re looking for your input on how to create urban spaces that prioritise the needs and voices of young people. Can't make it to the event? Share your insights with us through our survey! https://lnkd.in/e7nZQG-9 Save the Children International UNICEF Van Leer Foundation ISOCARP - International Society of City and Regional Planners SDI. (Slum Dwellers International) FIA Foundation BYCS Cities Alliance Habitat for Humanity International World Vision

Rushda Majeed shares our call to rebuild villages of care in cities, as she participates in the World Urban Forum 12 Egypt #WUF12   We have a vision of cities where caregiving can flourish. In this piece, Rushda outlines the enormous opportunities we see when the needs of young children and their caregivers are well understood and addressed in urban development. https://lnkd.in/eKaBUDNF   "Parents of young children in cities face challenging decisions – from balancing work and childcare, to finding affordable housing in safe neighbourhoods, to managing the daily pressures of navigating around the city to perform daily tasks, often under time constraints and with a baby or toddler in tow." Michael Feigelson Andrea Torres Sansotta Victoria Chavez Patricia Núñez Irina Ivan-van der Kwaak Hannah Rothschild Daniella Ben-Attar claudia vidigal Farah Maher Jadallah Karima Grant Elvira Thissen Annemarie Poorterman Evline Meshreky Prakash Kumar Paul Elissa Strauss Savvas Verdis Philipp Rode Katie Beck Sarah Sabry, PhD Skye Duncan Sara Candiracci Ana María Rey Martinez Anita Tarrini Agnita Twigt Charlotte Davidi Cities4Children - The Global Alliance WRI India Arup Global Designing Cities Initiative Qendra Marrëdhënie Gehl - Making Cities for People LSE Cities BYCS CECIP Centro de Criação de Imagem Popular ISSA - International Step by Step Association The African Early Childhood Network (AfECN) Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC) Arab Network for Early Childhood ANECD #Urban95 #Citiesforchildren #parents #humanconnection #earlyyears #earlychildhooddevelopment

📣 We are excited to be at the World Urban Forum 12 Egypt, where we are championing cities rebuilding villages of care for parents, caregivers, and their young children because when cities care, everyone flourishes. Come find and connect with our team in person Rushda Majeed Victoria Chavez Evline Meshreky at these 8 moments during the forum: 🟢 Growing Up Urban, 5.30-6.30pm, 1 Nov 📍Grand Egyptian Museum  🟦 Executive Education & the New Urban Agenda, 11-12pm, 5 Nov 📍Urban Expo  🟡 Advancing Caring Cities, 3-4pm, 5 Nov 📍Multipurpose room 21  🟩 Urban95 Academy Intro, 10-11am, 6 Nov 📍LSE Booth  🔴 It Starts with Children, 3-5pm, 6 Nov 📍Multipurpose room 16  🟨 Urban95 Academy Alumni Gathering, 5-6pm, 6 Nov 📍LSE Booth  🔵 Empathy in Motion, 1-4pm, 7 Nov 📍Plenary Room B  🟥 Public Spaces for Children, 10-11am, 8 Nov 📍ONE UN Room A    LSE Cities Cities4Children - The Global Alliance BYCS Qendra Marrëdhënie Arup WRI India Global Designing Cities Initiative UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) African Centre for Cities Mayors Migration Council Save the Children International Philipp Rode Edgar Pieterse Andrea Torres Sansotta Simon Battisti Sarah Sabry, PhD Skye Duncan Sara Candiracci José Chong Anupama Nallari #WUF12 #Urban95 #earlychildhood #caregiverwellbeing

What happens when a city cares for its young children and caregivers?  👨👩👦 The film When a City Cares—produced by the Van Leer Foundation with Raw London—tells the remarkable story of #BoaVista, Brazil, where over 10 years of investment in early childhood through programmes like Família que Acolhe and #Urban95 have transformed services and public spaces to improve the lives of all families.  Through the voices of mothers Lismary and Larissa, project leader Elane, and Mayor Arthur, we see first-hand how prioritising #earlychildhood can reshape a city and create healthier, more connected communities.  To celebrate #WorldCitiesDay, we invite you to watch When a City Cares and imagine your city as a place where young children, families, and community wellbeing are at the centre of decision-making. What would that look like?  📽️ Watch the film and share it widely to inspire others. Together, let’s build cities where everyone can flourish!  https://lnkd.in/eTchhByr Prefeitura Municipal de Boa Vista - RR AVSI BRASIL CECIP Centro de Criação de Imagem Popular claudia vidigal Taís Herig Marina Arilha Silva Beatriz Fumagalli Karina Tollara d'Alkimin Gabriela Cavalcante Rushda Majeed Michael Feigelson Andrea Torres Sansotta Patricia Núñez Victoria Chavez Hannah Rothschild Alexis Camejo Tomaz Cavalieri Charlotte Davidi Blessing Alade #Urban95 #EarlyChildhood #BoaVista #WorldCitiesDay  

Join us at the World Urban Forum for our Networking Event: It Starts with Children – Local Actions for Inclusive Urban Futures 🏙️ 📅 Nov 6, 15:00 – 16:30 📍 Multipurpose Room 16 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eF5q5Hkh At this event, we are seeking input from city and local governments. If you are a city of local government and will not be at the World Urban Forum, please share your insights through this survey: https://lnkd.in/e7nZQG-9 Moderator: - Sarah Sabry, PhD, Save the Children International Speakers: - Greg Munro, Cities Alliance - Thomas George, UNICEF - Adria DUARTE GRIñO, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) - Rushda Majeed, Van Leer Foundation Event contributors: BYCS, ISOCARP - International Society of City and Regional Planners, FIA Foundation, Habitat for Humanity International, SDI. (Slum Dwellers International) #WUF12 #Cities4Children

Tomorrow on 24 October we will be sharing stories from our journal #EarlyChildhoodMatters that are inspiring ecosystem-wide support for the early years at the ISSA - International Step by Step Association 2024 Conference. Details here: https://lnkd.in/dXMM7KdA Joining us are four inspiring contributors from past issues - spotlighting the diverse insights that underline the journal's cross-disciplinary approach. Read globally, shared freely—Early Childhood Matters, published by the Van Leer Foundation, reaches over 150 countries. Join the growing community and be first to read ECM 2024 (coming soon) ➡ https://lnkd.in/et3dDidi