Van Leer Foundation

📖 Since 1998, the Van Leer Foundation’s Early Childhood Matters journal has been at the forefront of innovation in early childhood development. The upcoming edition dives deep into what parents and other caregivers need for a good start, including: ✨ The emerging science of care ✨ Rituals that nurture connection ✨ Building villages of support in cities 💗 Launching in January, #ECM2025 shows how every sector of society can support parents and caregivers — and create ripples of change that strengthen communities for generations to come. 🔖 Subscribe now to get your free copy straight to your inbox on release day: bit.ly/ECM-2025 📸 Genaye Eshetu #EarlyChildhoodMatters #WhatParentsNeed #ListenToParents

Over the past 8 years, #Urban95 in Israel has transformed from a pilot programme in Tel Aviv-Yafo to a national network of cities prioritising babies, toddlers and their caregivers.   As a nationwide movement serving a diverse population, and in partnership with the Israel Green Building Council (ILGBC) המועצה הישראלית לבנייה ירוקה, the Urban95 Israel team has invested significantly in cultural adaptation of Urban95 programming, with dedicated regional managers supporting families in Arab and Ultra-Orthodox communities.   Through community-building efforts in neighbourhoods, Programme Director Bosmat Sfadia Wolf (MA, B.Arch) shared 🗣️ "The overarching sentiment that has emerged is, 'We are not alone', even during life’s most significant transitions like welcoming a new child into the family".   Read the full story 🖱️ https://lnkd.in/eRF-kDsK Daniella Ben-Attar Michal Warnick Ellen Avraham Victoria Chavez Andrea Torres Sansotta Rushda Majeed Hannah Rothschild

"When Paula Schild Mascarenhas was elected mayor of Pelotas, Brazil, in 2016, the city had an alarmingly high homicide rate: 30 murders for every 100,000 residents. Preventing violence, particularly against children, quickly became her top priority. In 2017 she created the Pelotas Pact for Peace, an initiative that addresses the root causes of violence through social policy that supports children and families. The programme, which includes expanding access to high quality early education, supporting construction of naturalised playgrounds, providing teacher training, and funding home visits for families with young children, has been highly successful. Over the next four years, Pelotas saw a 9% drop in homicides, a positive trend which continues to this day. Mascarenhas says that the #Urban95Academy, which she attended in 2023, has been instrumental in helping the city pilot these programmes." 👀 Read the full interview with Mayor Mascarenhas here: https://lnkd.in/erejqEud CECIP Centro de Criação de Imagem Popular LSE Cities claudia vidigal Savvas Verdis Katie Beck Marie Kaune Victoria Chavez

📣 We're hiring: Manager, Finance & Accounting 📣 Are you a finance professional who’s both people-oriented and results-driven? We’re looking for a dynamic professional to join our team and play a key role in ensuring the Foundation's financial health and sustainability. Collaborating with the investment team, programme staff, and senior leadership, you’ll help drive sustainable growth and create lasting impact. 📌 Learn more & apply here: https://lnkd.in/ecBs2vdM #FinanceJobs #Accounting #Leadership #Hiring #Impact Neil van der Meer Tim Otto Regine Bikker Irene Menheere Agnes Buis Agnita Twigt Hannah Rothschild Irina Ivan-van der Kwaak Javier Lopez, CFA

Em setembro, a partir de uma iniciativa do governo do Estado do Piauí, tivemos a honra de reunir 37 autoridades governamentais e servidores públicos no primeiro curso executivo voltado para políticas dedicadas à primeira infância. Esse curso é parte de um esforço contínuo para fortalecer as políticas públicas, garantindo que sejam orientadas pelas reais necessidades das crianças pequenas e de seus cuidadores, promovendo um ambiente onde possam prosperar e alcançar seu pleno potencial. 🟢 “Quando o curso é oferecido a secretários estaduais e tomadores de decisão, ele assume um significado estratégico ainda maior para o desenvolvimento de políticas públicas para a primeira infância”, diz Ana Luiza Raggio Colagrossi, do Espaço Àra.   🟨 https://lnkd.in/e_qy3GPT   🔵 organizado pela FGV - Fundação Getulio Vargas em colaboração com o Espaço Àra e com o apoio da Fundação Van Leer Rafael Fonteles claudia vidigal Marina Arilha Silva Beatriz Fumagalli Rushda Majeed Dandara Ramos Fernando Luiz Abrucio Adriana Alvarenga Pedro de Lima Marin Sam Sternin Núcleo Ciência Pela Infância - NCPI

In September, 37 government officials and public servants from Brazil's State of Piauí participated in the first executive course in early childhood policies. The course is part of a greater effort to ensure public policies are well informed and shaped by what young children and caregivers need to flourish. 🟢 “When the course is offered to state secretaries and decision-makers, it takes on an even greater strategic significance for developing early childhood public policies,” says Ana Luiza Raggio Colagrossi of Espaço Àra. 🟨 https://lnkd.in/e4egcwbm 🔵 organised by FGV - Fundação Getulio Vargas in collaboration with Espaço Àra and with support from the Van Leer Foundation Rafael Fonteles claudia vidigal Marina Arilha Silva Beatriz Fumagalli Rushda Majeed Ana Luiza Raggio Colagrossi Dandara Ramos Fernando Luiz Abrucio Adriana Alvarenga Pedro de Lima Marin Sam Sternin Núcleo Ciência Pela Infância - NCPI

It was a pleasure to host the Van Leer Foundation and key partners earlier this week for the launch of the Family Voices Toolkit.  The event sparked great conversations, and it’s exciting to see the word spreading about this important resource. The toolkit is a game-changer for those invested in bringing about real social impact through the built environment. It ensures future housing is designed with young families' needs at the forefront—not as an afterthought or a “nice-to-have.” Designed with direct input from parents and caregivers, the toolkit provides actionable steps for developers, investors, and planners to engage meaningfully with families, shaping spaces that truly support community wellbeing. You can find the toolkit here: https://lnkd.in/gy5WpCrY ZCD ARCHITECTS LTD Dinah Bornat Bridges Fund Management Ltd. PATRIZIA SE Jonathan Rose Companies Ardstone HUB #earlscourt #discoverwonder #familyvoicestoolkit #inclusivehousing #communitywellbeing

As part of the #Zaha95 project, which aims to create safe, nurturing environments for children, caregivers, and the community, we’re excited to share a glimpse of our "Streets for Kids" intervention in Jordan. In August, the Zaha Cultural Center مركز زها الثقافي hosted a first phase "Geometry Test" intervention in Amman, bringing together representatives from the Greater Amman Municipality, Traffic Police, Public Security Directorate, Central Traffic Department, Community Police and local community members to collaboratively explore street safety measures and foster a stronger sense of community. Phase two starts next week, Monday 18 November 🚥 Farah Maher Jadallah Alia Mjally Alrawashdeh Rushda Majeed Victoria Chavez Global Designing Cities Initiative SUPERPOOL

🏡 Where children grow up matters. Quality, affordable housing is essential for fostering life-long health, learning, and meaningful connections between children and their caregivers. We are really proud that The Family Voices Toolkit, developed by ZCD ARCHITECTS LTD is now available for everyone to use. The toolkit was created to be a resource for investors, developers, city leaders and community engagement specialists to integrate babies, toddlers and caregivers' needs into urban projects. We are deeply thankful to our partners from our Mission-Related Investing Portfolio Bridges Fund Management Ltd. PATRIZIA SE Jonathan Rose Companies Ardstone Fabrix HUB The Earls Court Development Company who worked with us to pilot the toolkit and shared their learnings. Together we have built a tool that truly connects people and builds trust with local communities. Dinah Bornat, Director at ZCD Architects, led the toolkit's pilot sessions, shared that, “Parents’ voices matter, and when we listen, we understand what they need – safe play spaces for their children and places to connect with neighbours.” On 12 November, 80+ impact investors, developers, city leaders, architects, and enablers joined us at the launch event held at The Earls Court Development Company, all eager to enhance social impact and support inclusive communities. As Irina Ivan-van der Kwaak, the Van Leer Foundation’s Representative for Mission Related Investing noted, “By listening to communities, across the end-to-end development process, we can more authentically understand their priorities and identify meaningful ways of supporting them. This is what social value is all about.” Now available online: https://lnkd.in/gy5WpCrY The toolkit offers valuable insights and practical tools for engaging parents and caregivers in housing design. From session frameworks and creative materials to practical considerations like scheduling and childcare, it equips stakeholders to meaningfully involve families of young children to build better homes and neighbourhoods. Rushda Majeed Michael Feigelson Annemarie Poorterman Savvas Verdis Rebekah Paczek Marleen Bekkers Lori Stanlick Dawn Mottram Jonathan F.P. Rose Ivan Rodriguez Rob Heasman Hannah Rothschild Neil van der Meer Arushi Khandelwal Clive N. Debbie Whitfield Anna Shiel Sarah Teacher Mark Hall Christine Murray Georgina Makin-Smith Harriet Sutton Nabiha Qadir Laurence Neal Isabel Hayes (nee Scruby) Sam Sternin Video by Milo Cumpstey #FamilyVoicesToolkit #AffordableHousing #EarlyChildhood #SocialImpact #ESG #UrbanDevelopment

As leaders gather today in Azerbaijan for #COP29, this story from India—one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change—illustrates how building cities for young families can protect against the impacts of climate change 🌏 Drawing from evidence collected in a first-of-its-kind study on young children and climate change in #India, there is a world of possibilities where interventions to improve urban life for young children and their caregivers can also contribute to cities’ climate resilience. 👉 https://lnkd.in/ewrXZfX9 Prakash Kumar Paul Rushda Majeed Smart Cities Mission Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs ICLEI South Asia Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University WRI India Victoria Chavez Hannah Rothschild