Suggested reading for applicants
If you're in need of some inspiration or ideas for your letter of motivation or to produce an example of work that relates to the situation of children in your country, we invite you to explore these links to further suggested reading.
The Bernard van Leer Foundation
Check out the about the foundation pages on this website and our latest annual report.
We publish a biannual journal for early childhood practioners called Early Childhood Matters, along with other papers and books. They're all free to download through our publications catalogue.
Take a look at the local partner organisations we're working with in your country, and a summary of our thinking about our activities there:
- Caribbean: partners, summary
- Colombia: partners, summary
- India (Orissa): partners, summary
- Kenya: partners, summary
- Mexico: partners, summary
- Peru: partners, summary
- South Africa: partners, summary
- Tanzania: partners, summary
- Uganda: partners, summary
Children's rights
To learn more about the concept of children's rights, see the full text of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, or UNICEF's summary in "child-friendly" language.
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child issued a "General Comment" explaining how children's rights should be interpreted when it comes to dealing with very young children. Take a look at our quick primer for more on this.
Early childhood development
Why are a child's early years so important? The Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Development is a good place to start, especially its four "cornerstone" messages.
There are also useful portals to knowledge on the importance of the early years provided by UNICEF and the World Bank.
Guidelines for journalists
A number of organisations have produced guidelines for journalists on reporting on issues or stories affecting children. Here are some of them:
- UNICEF press centre has principles for ethical reporting on children;
- With UNICEF's support, the South African organisation Media Monitoring Project produced a guide called All sides of the story, Reporting on children: A journalist's handbook;
- Produced by the Children's Rights Alliance of England and endorsed by the country's National Union of Journalists is Another perspective: how journalists can promote children’s human rights and equality;
- MediaWise, in collaboration with UNICEF, produced this resource: The Media and Children's Rights;
- From Save the Children Sweden, a set of workshop notes - Guidelines on interviewing children;
- The Child Rights Information Network's new media toolkit includes guidelines for journalists.
For applicants in South Africa
As well as the Media Monitoring Project guide listed above, applicants in South Africa should check out the website of the Early Childhood Development Learning Community of the foundation's South African partners, especially its resource centre.
For applicants in Mexico
Take a look at the Infancia Cuenta website, especially the introductory essay on early childhood.
