The best start in life
Every child deserves a healthy birth and quality early childhood development and education. We work to unlock the best start for every child.
175million children around the world are not enrolled in pre-primary education
90% of a child’s brain development takes place between birth and the age of five. This is why the five elements of nurturing care – health, nutrition, play, learning and protection – are so important for early childhood education and development.
Early years education and development can help identify a child’s learning needs early on, improve their socialisation and set them on the road to reaching their full potential. But children made vulnerable by conflict, emergency or disaster often miss out on opportunities to build a better future.
Research has shown that supporting early learning is the best investment a government can make: every $1 invested in early childhood care and development can lead to a return of as much as $17 for the most disadvantaged children.
That means the benefits of offering a child the best start in life are not just social but economic, too. Yet less than 2% of all early childhood development aid goes towards education. Theirworld wants to change that.
More on why this matters
Education and Early Childhood - from The Key
A Diminished Priority: An Updated Scorecard on Donor Funding to Pre-primary Education during Covid-19
We work at a global and local level to achieve the best start in life
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All Projects
The best start in life
Every child deserves a healthy birth and quality early childhood development and education. We work to unlock the best start for every child.
A safe place to learn
Every child has the right to an education free from fear of discrimination, violence or attack. We work to provide refugees, girls, children with disabilities and other underserved young people with the education they deserve.
Skills for the future
Young people are the next generation of changemakers, campaigners, entrepreneurs and workers. We work to help them develop the skills they’ll need to fulfill their potential, take part meaningfully in society and grow the global economy.
Free books for preschool children in Africa, with Book Dash
Book Dash - one of the winners of the second cohort of the Theirworld Education Innovation Awards - condenses the traditional publishing model into just 12 hours to make new books for preschool children and their families.
Blooming Buds, with Jeeva Jyothi
Transforming the lives of children in rural villages and slums in Puzhal block, India through early childhood education and good nutrition
Mamapreneurs for Early Childhood with Kidogo
Improving access to high-quality affordable childcare in Kenya
Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory
Created in 2004, the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory works to improve understanding of what causes early labour, how we can develop treatments to prevent it and how we can better help newborn babies in those first crucial hours and days after birth.
Focus on Kenya
We’re investing in research and working alongside local community partners to raise the profile of the importance of children’s early years across the political spectrum.
Theirworld Edinburgh Birth Cohort
Funded by Theirworld, the Edinburgh Birth Cohort is a world-first study in which researchers from the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory monitor the progress of 400 premature babies from birth to adulthood.
Small Grants Programme
Theirworld’s Small Grants Programme gives grants of up to £10,000 to registered charities and non-profits helping disadvantaged and overlooked young people in the UK and around the world.
Take Action
Act For Early Years
It's time to #ActForEarlyYears
Their News
Act For Early Years: Theirworld calls for a global movement to support the youngest children
