At Prudence Foundation, we recognised that many children in developing countries are not supported through the early years of their lives. This has the tragic effect of many children not obtaining the necessary skills to handle the challenges of primary school, resulting in high drop-out rates. So in response, we partnered with Save the Children who developed First Read, an innovative and holistic home-based early childhood care and development (ECCD) programme. First Read is designed to empower parents and caregivers to help young children develop essential literacy skills, preparing them for school and life.
The most critical brain development occurs from conception to age three, which is why good care and stimulation for this age group is so important. There is strong global evidence that early interventions can improve children’s development that lays the foundation for health, well-being, learning and productivity throughout a person’s life.