Musa’s education began long before he was old enough to go to school.

 As part of our early development programme run from a community clinic near his village, he received not only offers medical care and nutritional and family planning advice, but learning tools such as picture books.


Musa’s father Suman works on the river, transporting bricks up and down the waterways from the kilns that line the banks. Mina, aged 19, left school and got married. After her wedding she travelled to her husband’s village by trawler. Mina wants Musa to get stay in school longer than she did.


Musa’s education has begun long before he is old enough to go to school.

He is part of a Save the Children early development programme run from a community clinic near his village. It not only offers medical care and nutritional and family planning advice, but learning tools such as picture books.

I showed them to my child and he saw some pictures and asked what is this and what is that. Musa is very happy when he gets colourful picture books and now I use these books regularly because I want to make my child a regular book reader so, every evening I sit with Musa.

It is recognised that a child’s early months and years shape the rest of his or her childhood, adolescence and adult life. Pre-school children in the poorest parts of the world often miss out on an early childhood education and care.


Save the Children has been working for more than 20 years to develop and support pre-primary education in over 60 countries around the world. Our early childhood programmes’ provide safe spaces for children to learn, in countries where such facilities are difficult to access or simply not available.

We are striving to affect long-term change, by educating parents, teachers and communities on the importance of early childhood education and care.

The first years of life are critical in shaping cognitive, social and language skills. Our work is providing children with opportunity, and building the foundation for life-long learning.

Maybe I’ll be in my grave, but I will be happy if my son becomes a doctor. I say to my husband we will give our last drop of blood so that he should become a doctor.