Imagine…
…a Caribbean where young children from all social and economic backgrounds have equal opportunities to reach their maximum potential. This is our vision.
Our Heritage
The Foundation for the Development of Caribbean Children (FDCC) is the region’s
first indigenous, private foundation dedicated to early childhood development. The FDCC evolved from the ten-year-old Caribbean Child Support Initiative (CCSI). This initiative introduced effective and relevant support models for young children and their parents in the Eastern Caribbean. CCSI was primarily funded by the Bernard van Leer Foundation, and managed by the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD).
This initiative was based on three key elements: family and community intervention, knowledge building and application, and policy advocacy and communication. Its main objective was to mainstream effective and high-quality early childhood development and parenting support practices. Today, the FDCC provides the region’s only comprehensive response to the needs of disadvantaged children aged from birth to five years.
The Need
Caribbean children are missing vital developmental opportunities:
- Almost half of all rural families do not have information on how to stimulate children
- Nine out of ten 0-3 year olds have no chance to attend a day care centre or any other early childhood development programme
- At the start of primary school, 25- 30% of Caribbean children have not acquired the necessary basic cognitive skills to benefit from this education
Join Us
The time is now. Your contribution will go far in changing the lives of the most vulnerable children and their families in the Caribbean.
