The Bernard van Leer Foundation funds and shares knowledge about work in early childhood development and child rights. Download or order our free publications and browse the projects for disadvantaged young children we support through partner organisations around the world.

New ECM marks 20 years of the CRC

On November 20th it is 20 years since the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The foundation's flagship journal, Early Childhood Matters, marks this anniversary with a new edition on the subject of Realising the rights of young children: progress and challenges, featuring articles discussing various aspects of the CRC and General Comment 7 on implementing child rights in early childhood. Download the pdf or order your free printed copy today.

19 November 2009

Lisa Jordan on the 60th anniversary events

"Last week, to mark 60 years of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, we held two very special events in The Hague...": Lisa Jordan, the foundation's executive director, reflects on outreach to corporate leaders, the inaugural Oscar van Leer Fellowships for journalists, and the arrival of Sinterklaas in The Netherlands. Read more

17 November 2009

Equity and quality in Ethiopia, India and Peru

Equity and quality? Challenges for early childhood and primary education in Ethiopia, India and Peru is a Working Paper which forms part of the "Studies in Early Transitions" series. It is based on Young Lives, a 15-year longitudinal study of childhood poverty in diverse majority world contexts, and addresses the challenges of achieving equity and quality in early childhood programmes. Order your free printed copy or download the pdf.

16 November 2009

Lessons learned in Central America

The latest in our series of Online Outreach Papers, Strengthening the care environment for children in Central America, looks at five organisations in El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. As the foundation withdraws from future funding in the region, this is a collective endeavour to capture knowledge and lessons learned in using support, care and education programmes to work among children, families, and communities. Download your pdf copy.

13 November 2009

Foundation's anniversary on Dutch radio

The Bernard van Leer Foundation yesterday celebrated its 60th anniversary with events in The Hague to announce a 100,000 euro initiative for corporate leaders (press release in English/Dutch) and award the inaugural Oscar van Leer Fellowships. These events were followed by a radio discussion (audio in Dutch only) on Radio 1's Casa Luna programme featuring the foundation's executive director, Lisa Jordan, together with Geert-Jan Johannes, author of a new book about the founder's son, Oscar van Leer.

12 November 2009

Corporate outreach marks 60th anniversary

The Bernard van Leer Foundation next week marks its 60th anniversary with an event in The Hague centred on the question of what young children can expect from corporate leaders. This press release (in Dutch) gives further details of a 100,000 euro incentive to Dutch corporations to engage in projects with young children. Those interested in attending the event on November 11th (see invitation), which features a panel discussion with Dutch corporate leaders, are invited to email 60yearsbvlf@bvleerf.nl to check if space is available.

5 November 2009

Effective Early Childhood Programmes

Effective Early Childhood Programmes is the latest in the Early Childhood in Focus series, published in collaboration with the Open University, which provides accessible reviews of research and clear messages on policy issues. It outlines the case for early childhood programmes, summarises the evidence for their effectiveness, and considers the challenges in taking them to scale. Order your free printed copy or download the pdf.

30 October 2009

A message from the Executive Director

Lisa Jordan writes: “There couldn’t be a more challenging time to begin to lead a privately endowed foundation than in the midst of a global financial crisis. But challenges also imply opportunities. Three months after taking over as the Executive Director of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, I would like to take a moment to share with you what I have learned so far, and how the foundation intends to carry forward its work.” Read on

12 October 2009

Oscar van Leer Fellowship winners announced

The Bernard van Leer Foundation has chosen six young journalists from developing countries to be the inaugural recipients of the Oscar van Leer Fellowships. The fellowships aim to increase the quantity and quality of media coverage of issues affecting young children. For further details, please see the press release (pdf).

2 October 2009

Realising respect for young children

In a new foundation Working Paper, Shanti George looks at the routine disrespect shown to young children in everyday life and examines case studies from Germany and Israel to show what respect for young children looks like in practice. Order your free printed copy or download the pdf.

1 September 2009

Alternatives to the market model in ECEC

A joint publication with Bertelsmann Stiftung, the latest in the foundation's Working Papers series challenges the hegemony of the market model in early childhood education and care, discussing "democratic experimentalism" as an alternative. Now available to order or download as a pdf.

27 August 2009