We have just heard the exciting news from the U.S. that our Living First Language Platform has won the Solve – MIT Challenge in New York this morning in the category of Early Childhood Development.
Solve is an initiative of MIT that advances lasting tech solutions to address the world’s most pressing problem, and within the the Early Childhood Development category, was seeking technology-based solutions to improve learning and cognitive outcomes for children under the age of five.
There is overwhelming consensus from domestic and international research that children’s early learning occurs best in the language the child speaks most fluently, in their mother tongue. A lack of linguistically inclusive early education is recognised by communities and leaders as a major factor in low levels of attainment and engagement of Indigenous children and families in early education. In remote areas of Australia, around two-thirds of Indigenous children speak some words of an Indigenous language, and in some communities, almost 100% of children encounter English for the first time when they enter school. Globally, around 221 million children do not have access to education in their First Language.
The Living First Language Platform provides an accessible, cross-platform digital solution with associated training that equips community members with the tools they need to develop resources and foster quality interactions in local languages.
We’re proud to have won this prestigious global competition, and to continue to shine a light on the importance of First Language in children’s early language and literacy development.
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