International Early Childhood Education Communities and Organizations

The first organization that I found interesting was the Association for Childhood Education International.
They are very active in the early childhood community around the world and they have consultative status with the United Nations. I choose this organization because they not only support children and education but they also support professional growth for educators.

Mission  
Our mission is to promote and support the optimal education, development, and well-being of children worldwide, and to influence the professional growth of educators and the efforts of others who are committed to the needs of children in a changing society.

Job opportunities
I did not see job listings on this web site but I did see that the organization is looking for candidates to join their board of directors.
The Nominations Committee of the Association for Childhood Education International seeks candidates for Board of Directors positions who demonstrate a clear commitment to furthering the education and well-being of children worldwide and are dedicated to promoting excellence in nonprofit governance.  Board of Directors members play a critical role in making decisions regarding Association goals and the allocation of resources (Association for Childhood Education International, 2011).
Some of the qualifications for the position are, possess strong leadership skills, possess broad knowledge of the field of childhood education with an understanding of global movements that impact the lives of children and Experience living or working in more than one nation.


The next organization that I found interesting was the World Forum Foundation.  
I would be interested in meeting with others from around the world to exchange ideas on early childhood issues so that I can learn from them and take ideas to use in my own community.

The World Forum Foundation provides opportunities for early childhood professionals who are interested in promoting the well-being of young children and families to share ideas, strategies, and perspectives (World Forum Foundation, 2011).

Job Opportunities
I did not see specific job opportunities but this organization has an international organization committee that they recruit members for. 

Members are appointed to the IOC from these categories:

• Two representatives from each region of the world as defined by UNICEF;

• Two representatives from each of the World Forum Working Groups;

• One representative for the World Forum National Representatives; and

• One representative from each of the major World Forum partners (World Forum Foundation,  2011).

The individuals from that join the committee from this group would probably need to have a Masters degree in early childhood education, be aware of the global perspectives of early childhood education have a passion for making a difference in the lives of children and their families.

I really like their forum on play because they have a "mud day" in June and they try to get as many children, families and teachers involved by playing in the mud.  They encourage participants to take pictures and send them to the organization to share their active involvement in natural children's play.  International mud day June 29, 2013.

UNICEF  

The next organization that was of interest to me was UNICEF which is very involved in helping and advocating for children and families around the world.  They have four focus areas which are, Child Survival and Development, Basic Equality and Gender Equality, HIV/AIDS and Children, Child Protection, Policy-Advocacy and Partnerships.

Purpose  
UNICEF is the driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized. We have the global authority to influence decision-makers, and the variety of partners at grassroots level to turn the most innovative ideas into reality.  That makes us unique among world organizations, and unique among those working with the young (UNICEF, 2012).

Job Opportunities
There are many job opportunities around the world.  Some are short term and some are more permanent. An example of a job opportunity is for Chief Education.  Some of the qualifications needed for this position are:
Advanced university degree in Social Sciences or a related technical field with background in Monitoring and Evaluation. Ten years progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in program planning and management in a related field, with emphasis on strategic planning, leading policy reform in a developing country environment, sectoral coordination, sector financing and sector leadership. Strong networks in the sector and strong program management required.  Fluency in English and another UN language required.  Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station is an asset (UNICEF, 2012).

Reference
Association for Education International. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://acei.org/
UNICEF. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/index.php
World Forum Foundation. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/index.php