Welfare Association held its first Regional Experts Seminar in the Early Childhood sector in Amman, Jordan, April 15-17, 2007, to discuss Palestinian program experiences, and particularly active learning methodologies. The seminar gathered 22 educators, teachers and administrators, as well as relevant WA staff, from the West Bank, 1948 areas and Lebanon; five Palestinian experts from the Gaza Strip also participated in the seminar through video-conferencing. The participants represented a range of levels of involvement in the sector, from research to programming, fundraising and KG administration.

The seminar, facilitated by WA’s Education Consultant Sharry Lapp, was an opportunity for WA partners and other practitioners in the sector to share information, exchange regional experiences and make policy and program recommendations for further development of active learning approaches in preschool education. Critical issues facing the sector were also discussed and action plans developed. Participants stressed the importance of developing human resources in the sector, conducting analytical and mapping research, and preparing quality educational resources.

Welfare Association has been a major supporter in developing the early childhood sector across Palestine and in camps in Lebanon by encouraging curricula development, the use of model facilities and teacher training in progressive techniques, disbursing a total of $11.1 million to NGOs since 1984. The WA is currently looking at programmatic involvement in the sector rather than project support to individual NGOs, in order to improve its strategic impact and model-building in the early childhood education sector across all regions.