Present for the Future Organisational Strategic Plan 2015-2019 ChildrenC:60% M:30% in Y:68% Crossfire K:8% was founded for most, would be a debilitating in 1996 in Derry, Northern Ireland trauma. Richard set up Children byC:32% Dr RichardM:84% Y:68% K:28% Moore. In 1972, in Crossfire with the intention at theC:0% M:69% age Y:100% of 10K:0% years, Richard of responding to the rights and was blinded by a rubber bullet needs of young children caught firedC:91% M:57%by a Y:44% British K:24% soldier at point in the crossfire of global poverty blank range. Amazingly from and injustice. The organisation’s childhood to the present day, he ‘spirit of compassion’ is one of has accepted his sight loss without its key strengths as it works in any feelings of resentment. “I partnership with others to find learned to see life in a different and implement the best possible way…I may have solutions to poverty. lost my sight, but I have vision”, is how he describes his remarkable acceptance of what, Abbreviations CADA Coalition of Aid and Development Agencies CPD Continuing Professional Development DE Development Education ECD Early Childhood Development CEO Dr Richard Moore talks to Meron Tesfaye and Wondosen Defar ECE Early Childhood Education at Addis Hiwot Pre-School, Ethiopia EFA Education for All MDGs Millennium Development Goals RBM Results Based Management SDGs Sustainable Development Goals UNCRC United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child UN United Nations UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation 2 UNDP United Nations Development Programme 3 In particular, ‘A Promise for the Future’, saw in initial teacher education and in-service Preface us develop strategically in Tanzania and teacher training, and have had significant Ethiopia within the area of Early Childhood success in advancing Development Education Development (ECD), making considerable into formal education. We have established I am delighted to present this progress in relation to Early Childhood ourselves as a high quality and reputable Strategic Plan for the period Education (ECE) interventions which improved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) 2015-2019. It builds on the the School Readiness of thousands of young teacher training service provider, and have achievements, results and lessons children. As you read through this new built strategic partnerships with Education learned during the previous plan strategic plan, you will see how we intend Authorities and with Development Education to build on these successes by focusing more organisations across the island of Ireland. entitled ‘A Promise for the Future’ specifically on improvingSchool Readiness Through this strategic plan we will build on during 2011-2015. in our target countries. We will ensure that this success, and work to expand the extent to children enter school with the necessary social which Development Education is embedded and cognitive competencies to achieve, whilst as a core element of teaching and learning also ensuring schools, families, communities in schools. and governments are providing the necessary learning environment so that young children Finally, whether we are working overseas or Message from Children in Crossfire’s Patron His have the best possible chance to benefit from here in the island of Ireland, we are driven Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet the schooling opportunities available to them. by our vision rooted in compassion for others, which is often so gracefully articulated by our ‘A Promise for the Future’ also committed us Patron, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of to engaging the public across the island of Tibet. Underpinning our results-focused and Ireland in Development Education. We see sustainable approach to development, we A Promise Development Education as an integral element view Compassion as the core value that drives of our overall work, in order for people to better us to take actions for a better world for every understand the structural causes of poverty child we encounter. and injustice, global interdependence, and for the Future the impact that personal choices and actions have upon people in developing countries. Dr Richard Moore, Chief Executive Officer, In particular we have demonstrated impact Children in Crossfire • increase the quality of early childhood saw us: education centres and increase enrolment rates to these centres; • improve the nutritional status of young children; • and create community structures to improve access to essential services for young children. Eyosyas Gezahagn studying hard at Addis Sadiki Amani Selemani a teacher at Hiwot Pre-School with his class-mates Mhonze School, Tanzania 4 5 Since 2008, Children in Crossfire has TIGRAY established a country office inTanzania, working with 5 strategic implementing partners. The organisation has become AFAR a reputable and active stakeholder in the ECD sector. Interventions in targeted AMHARA districts deliver capacity to ECD services BENISHANGUL-GU- Contents MUZ and vulnerable families that enable us DIRE DAWA ADDIS to demonstrate the benefits that come ABABA from investments in young children. HARARI At the national level, Children in GAMBELLA Crossfire has influenced policy and 08 Vision, Mission and Values SOMALI helped increase the understanding of the importance of investing in ECD SNN&PR programmes amongst key decision 10 Stragetic Direction makers OROMRYA 16 Stragetic Focus Wolisso (St Luke’s Hospital) Nutrition therapeutic feeding Community nutrition educa- tion Safe Water Development Addis Ababa (Addis Hiwot): Integrated ECD programme 22 Working for Results Housing and Livelihoods Ilemela District: Integrated ECD 26 Annex Talk to Your Baby MARA Moshi Rural District: Integrated ECD Talk to Your Baby KAGERA Children in Crossfire has been supportng MWANZA ARUSHA projects in Ethiopia since 2006. In recent KILIMANJARO Dar es Salaam: SHINYANGA years, we have aligned our activities to National Advocacy Paediatric Oncology focus on Early Childhood Development. KIGOMA MANYARA Working through local partners, our TABORA PREMBA NORTH targeted interventions with the most TANGA PREMBA SOUTH vulnerable families in Wolisso and SINGIDA ZANZIBAR NORTH DODOMA ZANZIBAR URBAN/WEST Addis Hiwot have resulted in sustained ZANZIBAR SOUTH changes in the lives of thousands of RUKWA young children. Building on this strong MOROGORO IRINGA foundation, Children in Crossfire will PWANI adopt a programmatic approach in MBEYA Mvomero District Integrated ECD Ethiopia, and work with new and Talk to Your Baby existing partners to ensure young LINDI children have access to high quality learning experiences ECD Capacity Building RUWUMA MTWARA 6 7 1 Vision A compassionate world where every child can reach his or her potential Mission To work with others to tackle the injustices of Vision, poverty affecting children We Value Mission Compassion Accountability a core concern for the well-being Using our resources effectively of others leading to actions for a and efficiently to build openness fairer world and trust with our supporters, partners and the communities &Values Partnership where we work working together to bring about sustainable change Equality Where everyone is treated fairly 8 and respected, and where rights are protected 9 For Children in Crossfire, sustainable We are focused specifically on the Change can only be fully realised through implementation of Sustainable Development Strategic a Programmatic approach to our work. Goal No 4 This means that our interventions work towards agreed outcomes which are linked to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and 2 to national and international identified promote life-long learning opportunities for all Direction initiatives, specifically the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for and on achieving results and lasting impact post 2015. We integrate our activities in order within Target 4.2 to promote collaboration between Vulnerable Families, Communities, Civil Society and By 2030 ensure that all girls and boys have access to Government, towards meeting agreed needs. quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education 1. “Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other’s welfare, social justice can never be attained” Eyosyas Gezahagn studying hard at Addis Hiwot (Helen Keller) Pre-School with his class-mates Change is dependent on Working for Change through our people, communities, services International Programmes and governments all working Global inequality and poverty impacts together to ensure that the right negatively upon children, and prevents social and political conditions are them from reaching their full potential. It limits the extent to which governments in place so that every child has and communities can invest in important the best possible chance to reach services for the development, protection and his or her full potential. Children education of its children. Children in Crossfire in Crossfire seeks partnerships works to bring positive and sustainable both locally and globally in Change to the lives of children who are caught up in the Crossfire of Poverty. working towards this goal. Children at Playtime at Mhonze Primary School, Tanzania Young Children in Crossfire Supporters take 10 Specially designed ECD tools for Pre-school education Tanzania 11 Action for Change 1 The UN General Assembly Open Working Group (OWG) on