MAPLE Leaf Early Years Foundation, a non-governmental organisation in Nigeria,has won the prestigious global 2024 Zero Project Award for Inclusive Education In Emergencies In Transitional Learning Centres, according to a statement made available to the News Point Nigeria in Abuja.
Judith Hermetter, Head of Communications to 2024 Zero Project Award International, said in the statement issued on Monday that Maple Leaf Foundation was selected from among 500 nominations across the globe as the winner in the category.
“The Zero Project has announced the Zero Project Awardees 2024, centred around Inclusive Education, and ICT. 77 Innovative Solutions from 43 countries will receive the Zero Project Award at the Zero Project Conference 2024 in Vienna, Austria,”, the statement read in part.
“The Zero Project is committed to supporting the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), by researching, identifying, communicating, and supporting innovative solutions globally and across all sectors of society. The Zero Project 2024 annual research cycle was dedicated to the theme of Inclusive Education, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
“The UN CRPD emphasises that persons with disabilities have the right to education and lifelong learning, without discrimination and based on equal opportunity, as stated in Article 24. The Zero Project deliberately went beyond this definition, as many innovative solutions have identified gaps in the formal education system – from early childhood to adulthood – as a major barrier for making Inclusive Education work, for instance, with respect to transition models, the training of teachers, parents and professionals, non-formal education, and ICT-driven tools.
“The 77 Awardees come from 43 different countries and from all six continents, with Europe (24 Awardees), Asia & Pacific (23), North America (10), Latin America & Caribbean (11), Africa (6), and Australia & Oceania (3). The countries with the highest numbers of Awardees are the United States of America (9); India (6); Austria (5); Spain (4); and Australia, Brazil, and Japan (3 each).
“All awarded solutions are scalable, with many already operational in several countries. The number of innovations from and implemented on the African continent, is at its highest compared to any previous research cycle, reflecting the significant potential and steadily growing innovation landscape in these countries.
“The Zero Project’s mission is working for a world with zero barriers. Worldwide, the Zero Project finds and shares solutions that improve the daily lives and legal rights of all persons with disabilities, as intended and encouraged by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”.
On their part, responding to the award, Ifedinma Nwigwe, Co-founder / Executive Director, Maple Leaf Early Years Foundation said, the NGO was established in 2018 for the purpose of providing quality childcare for children in the early years.
“Through the years, since its inception in 2018, MLEYF has successfully cared for several children in the early and elementary school age bracket. The co-founders have since been involved in the training of staff to ensure quality education of all children that we have worked with.
“One of our co-founders has a degree in Early Childhood Education and a wealth of experience in working with children, training and mentoring staff and setting up childcare and learning centers, and designing programs for children of all ages.
“Our goal is to ensure that all children realize their right to basic quality educational programs and proper health care and livelihood supports, particularly in the early years and for young adults and adolescents.
“To work in partnership with the Nigerian government as well as other local and international organizations and stakeholders to put in place a national policy that will ensure the establishment of quality childcare and learning centers, particularly in the rural areas, targeting low-income families and disadvantaged children
“To promote and support teacher-training for those in the education sector by liaising with international educational institutions, and to increase the supply of teachers through reformed teacher training programs”, she stated.
Other award recipients are:
1. AUSTRIA/UGANDA: LIGHT FOR THE WORLD
2. DRC: APPUI AU DÉVELOPPEMENT DE L’ENFANT EN DÉTRESSE (ADED)
3. KENYA: KILIMANJARO BLIND TRUST AFRICA (KBTA)
4. MALAWI: WORLD VISION MALAWI (WVM) WITH THE MALAWI NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF (MANAD)
5. NIGERIA: MAPLE LEAF EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION
6. NIGERIA: SAVE OUR NEEDY ORGANIZATION (SON)
7. TANZANIA: TAI TANZANIA
8. AZERBAIJAN: MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL PROTECTION OF POPULATION (MLSPP), REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
9. BANGLADESH: DISABLED REHABILITATION AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (DRRA)
10. INDIA: SIGHTSAVERS INDIA
11. INDIA: TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOUNDATION (TCS FOUNDATION)
12. ISRAEL: ISRAEL ELWYN, WITH THE HARRIS PROGRAM AT BAR ILAN UNIVERSITY
13. JAPAN: OKAYAMA BROADCASTING CO., LTD. (OHK)
14. NEPAL: KARUNA FOUNDATION NEPAL (KFN) WITH PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF KOSHI PROVINCE
15. SAUDI ARABIA: KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY
16. AUSTRALIA: AUSTRALIAN DISABILITY NETWORK
17. AUSTRIA: HOSPITAL ST. JOHN OF GOD LINZ, UPPER AUSTRIA
18. BELGIUM: EASPD WITH UNICEF REGIONAL OFFICE IN GENEVA AND SIX NATIONAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
19. GERMANY: CBM CHRISTOFFEL-BLINDENMISSION – KENYA COUNTRY OFFICE
20. SWITZERLAND: UNICEF
21. UKRAINE: MINISTRY OF SOCIAL POLICY OF UKRAINE
22. UK: SIGHTSAVERS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY ALLIANCE (IDA)
23. USA: CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY ADVOCACY AND DIPLOMACY AT ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY
24. USA: PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
25. USA: UNICEF
26. USA: SENSEE