Ahlan Simsim in Iraq: Early Childhood Development

For millions of children across the Middle East, conflict and crisis have marked some of the most formative years of their lives with displacement, chaos, and violence. Currently, more than 52 million children in the Middle East are in need of humanitarian assistance. Conflict and displacement can negatively impact children’s intellectual and social-emotional development and threaten long-term economic prosperity, health and well-being. These children are at high risk of failing to reach their full developmental potential. In Iraq, prioritizing early childhood development (ECD) for all vulnerable communities continues to be a pressing need that requires persistent investment and attention. According to UNICEF, only 2.4% of children aged 3 to 5 years old attend an early childhood education program. As a result, when these children enter the Iraqi education system for primary school and beyond, they are severely underprepared socially, emotionally, and academically.

AHLAN SIMSIM

In 2018, the MacArthur Foundation committed $100 million to Sesame Workshop and the IRC to support children impacted by conflict and crisis in the MENA region. This high-quality early childhood intervention consists of program models supporting children’s social-emotional and intellectual development and programming for caregivers supporting them to aid in their child’s development beyond the classroom. The program includes services delivered in IRC and NGO partner centers, as well as in partnership with government ministries to reach children at scale and address some of the most critical developmental challenges we see today.

CONTEXT

For years, Iraq has struggled with conflict and destruction, with long-lasting impact to the major infrastructural institutions particularly in areas with high rates of displacement. Access to basic services is limited and varied. Consequences of the violence are evident at the level of the individual child, family, and society and have included a long history of government instability, destruction of schools, inconsistent access to basic human services, among many others, affecting vulnerable populations most. Since 2014, roughly 15% of the population – 6 million Iraqis – have been displaced. As a result, the largest populations in need of humanitarian assistance include internally displaced people (IDPs), which account for 1.2 million people across Iraq. Additionally, IDP returnees – those returning to their home region – account for nearly 5 million of those living in Iraq. While Iraq is now experiencing relative stability, the country continues to face protracted humanitarian and development needs, a complex political environment, and the worsening impacts of climate change, with Iraq’s most vulnerable populations suffering the greatest effects. The Ahlan Simsim team and partner organizations are committed to providing crucial services for vulnerable children and their caregivers across Iraq and are working more diligently than ever to continue to implement, improve, and advocate on behalf of children.

Source: International Rescue Committee