2024 ISSA - International Step by Step Association Conference

Early Years - the organisation for young children has been attending the 2024 ISSA - International Step by Step Association conference in Sofia, Bulgaria this week.

The theme of the conference has been “It takes an early childhood ecosystem for all young children to thrive”.

The keynote speaker was Mathias Urban, Desmond Chair of Early Childhood Education and Director of the Early Childhood Research Centre (ECRC) at Dublin City University whose presentation was entitled “It takes a village - early childhood as a common global good”.

Our CEO Pauline Walmsley gave a presentation on “The Transformative power of Early Childhood Development - Promoting high quality ECD and fostering sustainable peace and social cohesion".

Early Years also provided an overview on the work of the International Network on Peace Building and how that work with young children underpins the importance of effective ECD activity in developing peaceful societies. Pauline also met with Liana Ghent - Director of ISSA.

Pauline Walmsley pictured with Liana Ghent - Director of ISSA since 2006

Pauline Walmsley Early Years CEO, delivering a fringe presentation at the ISSA conference in Sofia.

Keynote speaker Mathias Urban, Desmond Chair of Early Childhood Education and Director of the Early Childhood Research Centre (ECRC).