UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, has recently stated that investing in the early years of children’s lives can strengthen their brain development, health, and learning, and have a long-term positive impact on their lives.
In a message published on its X account, the organization emphasized the importance of ensuring a secure future for children, stating that childhood “shapes their entire life.”
The United Nations Children’s Fund further stressed that, for this reason, parents in six provinces of Afghanistan are participating in a 16-week child growth and development program.
According to the statement, the program helps parents increase their self-confidence, strengthen their childcare skills, and create lasting positive changes at home.
UNICEF added that supporting children’s growth and development in the early years of life lays the foundation for their physical and mental health, as well as their future academic success and overall life outcomes.
This emphasis on investing in children’s early years comes at a time when children in Afghanistan face serious challenges, including poverty, child labor, limited access to education and healthcare services, security instability, and the consequences of ongoing conflicts that threaten their growth and well-being.
