Canadian Launch of Sankofa: Appreciating the Past in Planning the Future of Early Childhood Education, Care and Development (ECD) in Africa.
On April 15, 2024 Prof. Alan Pence and Dr. Patrick Makokoro, two of the four editors of Sankofa, were joined at the University of Victoria by local, national and international guests to celebrate the Canadian Launch of this important UNESCO publication. UVic President Kevin Hall welcomed guests, noting that this publication underscores UVic’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and to its Global Engagement priorities. The UNESCO Co-Chairs for ECD is unique internationally with its bridge from UVic in Canada to Africa where the two other Chairs for ECD are based (in South Africa: Prof. Hasina Ebrahim and Senegal: Prof. Oumar Barry).
The SANKOFA launch was graced by the UNESCO Global ECCE Specialist Ms Rokhaya Diawara and the Early Childhood Development Action Network Executive Director Ms Elizabeth Lule who both commended the editors and chapter contributors for producing a volume that would have a significant impact on early childhood development not only in Africa but globally.
Following presentations by Ms. Diawara and Ms. Lule, Prof. Pence shared personal experiences and perspectives on the importance of ‘culture and context’, listening to local voices, and learning from pioneers who came before—all inspirations for Sankofa.
Dr. Patrick Makokoro delivered a presentation with highlights on the book and following this, a lively Q&A session ensued, with the Editors engaging in thought-provoking discussions with the audience. The event concluded with a book signing and the book launch was a testament to the power of storytelling and the transformative impact of literature.
The book launch was a resounding success, exceeding all expectations. That success bodes well for the book’s future and its potential to inspire and engage readers for years to come.
Letting A Thousand Flowers Bloom – Early Childhood Development Networks in Africa.
“Letting A Thousand Flowers Bloom: Early Childhood Development Networks in Africa” is a book that explores the establishment and impact of early childhood development networks across Africa. The book highlights the importance of early childhood development in promoting children’s well-being and future success. It delves into how these networks are created and operated, emphasizing their collaborative nature and the crucial role they play in bringing together diverse stakeholders, such as governments, NGOs, and community organizations. Through stories shared by academics and practitioners, the book illustrates the challenges and successes of these networks in addressing the unique needs and contexts of African communities. Ultimately, “Letting A Thousand Flowers Bloom” showcases the power of collective action and collaboration in enhancing early childhood development and nurturing the potential of Africa’s youngest generation.
Celebrating Prof Hasina Ebrahim: UNESCO Tri-Chair Receives Prestigious South African Education Research Recognition Award 2023
The Africa Based Capacity Development Team sends hearty congratulations to UNESCO Tri-Chair, Prof Hasina Ebrahim for being awarded the South African Education Research Recognition Award 2023.
In sharing the news, Prof Hasina Ebrahim said “ I am really excited to receive the South African Education Research Recognition Award 2023. This award is for specific and noteworthy contribution to a significant issue that has national and global influence. For me this is early childhood care and education. I was nominated by my mentee Dr Mary Clasquin Johnson. Thank you to Mary and the SAERA Scientific Committee. I also did the keynote at the SAERA conference entitled Troubling ECD Education Foundations for better futures. Our Sankofa book was launched at the book launch evening session.”
Congratulations Prof Ebrahim!
“Africa has the greatest concentration of young children globally. Yet, the world hears too little about early childhood education, care, and development from the continent. Stories and perspectives of early education in Africa, and other parts of the world, are rich, diverse, and full of local knowledge and traditions. But that diversity is not represented and recognized at the global level today.” — Sankofa
Join the Center for Global Development for a virtual discussion with editors Alan Pence, Patrick Makokoro, HB Ebrahim, and Oumar Barry on their recently released book, “Sankofa: Appreciating the Past in Planning the Future of Early Childhood Education, Care and Development in Africa.” The book “seeks to address long-standing concerns and inequities regarding the missing voices, data and knowledge in this field from Africa. It aims to tell African stories and experiences through their own, contextualized understandings of education for their youngest citizens”. The event will begin with a presentation of the book by the editors. The speakers will then discuss the implications of the book’s findings for early childhood development, women’s economic empowerment, and care policies in Africa.
Sankofa: Appreciating the Past in Planning the Future of Early Childhood Education, Care and Development (ECD) in Africa
Editors: Alan Pence, Patrick Makokoro, Hasina Banu Ebrahim and Oumar Barry
Sankofa is the product of a collaboration of the UNESCO Tri-Chairs of ECD in Africa with next generation scholar Dr. Patrick Makokoro. See www.ecdinafrica.org for more information regarding the UNESCO Tri-Chairs, Sankofa and other work.
Sankofa: Appreciating the Past in Planning the Future of Early Childhood Education, Care and Development (ECD) in Africa had several inspirations.
One was a question by a self-described ‘millennial’ leader: ‘why had he not
been told the history of ECD in Africa’ before undertaking such leadership. His
question resonated with the Akan people’s term Sankofa: ‘remember the past
to make progress in the future.’ His personal question is equally valid at the global level: ‘Why does the world not know about how ECD is understood in Africa’, and indeed in other parts of the Majority (Developing) World?’
This book seeks to address both questions: individual and global, with a hope to stimulate other regions of the world to tell their stories through their own, contextualized understandings.
The book does not claim to be exhaustive. It calls out for others in Africa, and in other parts of the Majority World, to tell their stories. Those stories, experiences, understandings and perspectives are not just important for those who live them, but for the world.
The stories of children’s care and development from around the globe is historically rich and diverse. The World of ECD has yet to write, yet to tell, its ‘full story’—Sankofa is one step in that direction.
Sankofa: Appreciating the Past in Planning the Future of Early Childhood Education, Care, and Development in Africa
Join the Center for Global Development for a virtual discussion with editors Alan Pence, Patrick Makokoro, HB Ebrahim, and Oumar Barry on their recently released book, Sankofa: Appreciating the Past in Planning the Future of Early Childhood Education, Care and Development in Africa.
The event will include a presentation of the book by the editors. Speakers will then discuss the implications of the book’s findings for early childhood development, women’s economic empowerment, and care policies in Africa.
