In November 2004, the World Forum Foundation partnered with NIPPA – the early years organisation to host the first-ever Working Forum (the idea is to conduct regional, interactive forums focusing on a single topic). Working Forum Belfast – entitled, “Building Bridges: Healing Communities through Early Childhood Education” – focused on the power of early childhood education to bring communities together after conflict.
Early childhood leaders from organizations involved in reconciliation efforts in Northern Ireland, Croatia, Albania, Rwanda, Mali, South Africa, Israel, the Philippines, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Colombia, and the United States gathered in Belfast to learn from each other’s experiences and to share their lessons learned with the European early childhood community. Working Forum Belfast also served as the launching pad for the World Forum Global Leaders for Young Children project.
View photos from this event