The Power of Networks in Early Childhood Development
At the recent ISSA Conference, Emma Ursich, Executive Officer of The Human Safety Net, delivered an intervention on The power of networks in catalysing and sustaining systemic changes for ECD. The discussion highlighted the importance of a network mindset and how it can create a stronger impact for young children and their families.
The panel featured the Funders’ Perspective where The Human Safety Net shared the stage with Patricia Nunez Zamora, Early Years Expert, the Van Leer Foundation, as well as the Networks’ Perspective which feature Ghassan Issa, Executive Director, Arab Network for ECD (ANECD), Liana Ghent, Executive Director, ISSA, Eva Deak, Director, Partners Hungary Foundation, Hungary, and Eleonora Kulchar, Director, Charity Foundation Blago, Ukraine .
We discussed about the concept of the Open Net and how this approach involves acting in collaboration with various entities, including foundations, NGOs, and both the public and private sectors. The Human safety Net highlighted explained that the foundation is part of several regional networks that promote best practices in philanthropy, such as Impact Europe and AVPN in Asia. These networks provide a platform for sharing and learning from peers about grant making strategies, impact investing, and measuring impact.
One of the key points made was about The Human Safety Net’s active role in hosting gatherings at The Home in Venice. These events, such as Impact Europe’s Business for Impact in 2023 and the CEO Gathering in 2024, bring together peer foundations like Porticus and Lego to share insights and best practices. This collaborative environment fosters a culture of learning and innovation, which is crucial for driving systemic changes in ECD.
Beside the panel, The Human Safety Net delivered a presentation on how the corporate business can work together with non-profit organisations on shared goals. Lora Lalova, from Generali Bulgaria’s Marketing Team and Programme Manager at The Human Safety Net Bulgaria and Srebrina Efremova-Veleva from our NGO partner For Our Children, shared on our cooperation and how we maximise impact on a local level.
The discussions at the ISSA Conference were a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of networks in ECD. By fostering collaboration, sharing best practices, and promoting a network mindset, The Human Safety Net is making significant strides in creating systemic changes that benefit young children and their families.
