Early Childhood Journalism Initiative - Work We've Supported

In 2017 the Dart Center launched the Early Childhood Journalism Initiative (ECJI) to increase and strengthen reporting on the youngest children and their caregivers. Through workshops, webinars, reporting fellowships, and networking opportunities, this multi-year initiative is providing journalists around the world with knowledge, skills, financial support, and other resources to expand and deepen news coverage of early childhood and its intersection with issues such as inequality, education, health, child care, and social and economic policy around the world.

Since 2017 the initiative has organized four virtual fellowship programs that have provided reporting grants to over 75 journalists from 60 countries, and fostered relationships between international experts and journalists across the globe. Below are links to some of the pieces supported by the fellowship programme. 

 

“Pese a lo que muestran las cifras, otras formas de paternar son posibles en Ecuador” (Despite what figures show, other ways of being a father are possible in Ecuador)

This reportage looks at initiatives in Ecuador that support fathers in having a more active parenting role. It won Ecuador’s top journalistic prize, the Eugenio Espejo, for the best reportage in online media in 2023.

Fellow: Diana Romero ('22), Ecuador

 

 

"Cinco anos depois, como estão as crianças com microcefalia?" (Five Years Later, How Are Children with Microcephaly?)

This piece in Brazil’s Estadão looks at the first five years of life of five children who were born with Zika syndrome, reconstructing their struggles and looking at the extra challenges they faced during the pandemic, as medical support became unavailable. It won the Prêmio Synapsis 2022 (for the Internet category), issued by Federação Brasileira de Hospitais (FBH).

fellow: Fabiana Cambricoli ('19), brazil

 

"After a femicide, what happens to the children?"

Originally published in Romania’s narrative magazine Dor, and then republished in English by Worldcrunch, this in-depth feature looks at the children of femicides in Romania — looking at the lack of psychological and financial support they receive, even though they are deemed to be “special orphans”. The piece won second prize for the best Reportage in the Superscrieri awards, Romania's national journalism prizes, in 2023, and was shortlisted for the 2024 True Story Award.

Fellow: Oana Sandu ('22), ROmania 

 

How COVID-19 and climate shocks are hurting children’s health in Guatemala

This report looks into how the combined effects of a changing climate, the pandemic and government spending cuts have stunted the growth and development of children in rural communities across Guatemala.

Fellows: Malte Werner ('19) & José García Escobar ('19), Guatemala
 

 

 

"Storm Cycle" 

This is the story of a mother and daughter whose lives are circumscribed by the weather, poverty and social control and are trying to break the cycle. This story earned Ritwika Mitra second prize for the best article prize of the PII-ICRC Awards 2023, an award by the Press Institute of India (PII), Chennai, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Fellow: Ritwika Mitra ('22), India

 

 

 

 

"Infância minada: garimpos ilegais de ouro no Tapajós adoecem crianças ribeirinhas" (Childhood under Threat: How Illegal Mining is Making Children Sick in the Amazon Region)

This multimedia project looks at the effects of illegal mining on children. The podcast won the Save the Children/Gabo Foundation 2023 prize in the audio category.

FELLOW: SARAH FERNANDES ('22), BRAZIL

 

 

"To Study Zika, They Offered Their Kids. Then They Were Forgotten"

This reportage looks at the families of babies with congenital Zika syndrome, and how they felt used and abandoned by researchers and medical professionals. The piece was a finalist for the Science Feature category for the NASW Science in Society Journalism Award 2022.

Fellow: Mariana Lenharo ('21), Brazil

 

 

 

"Chinatown preschool helps families name pandemic-related feelings

This story highlights a new emotional education curriculum being used in Boston’s Chinatown to address the growing need to teach preschoolers how to manage their pandemic-related feelings.

Fellow: Heidi Shin ('22), USA
 

 

 

 

"Black and Latino infants and toddlers often miss out on early therapies they need"

This report sheds light on the wide racial gap in access and quality to early intervention services provided by state governments.

fellow: Sarah Carr ('22), USA
 

 

 

 

Von traumatisierten Kindern und überlasteten Kitas” (Of traumatized children and overwhelmed daycare centers)

This 30-minute audio documentary, broadcast on Bavaria’s public-service Bayerischer Rundfunk radio, looks at how Germany’s preschool system struggles to give proper space and care to Ukrainian refugee children, and their traumas.

Fellow: Lisa Schurr ('23), Germany
 

 

 

Guiding Mothers and Babies Through the Opioid Crisis”

This piece, published in the New York Times, examines how to minimize risk associated with newborn infants being exposed to opioids during pregnancy.

Fellow: Jack Graham ('18), USA
 

 

 

 

 

“Raising a child with autism in Kenya: Facing stigma, finding glimmers of hope”

This piece on NPR looks at parents of children on the autism spectrum in Kenya who struggle to get diagnosis, therapy, and support — and the groups that do exist to help them.

FEllow: Scovian Lilian ('23), Kenya

 


 

 

“Escuelas a prueba de balas” (Bulletproof schools)

This in-depth reportage looks at how gun violence in the poorest neighborhood of Caracas affects the youngest children — and how even preschools are unsafe territories that do not offer enough support for children who have experienced trauma. 

Fellow: Carmen Victoria Inojosa ('22), Venezuela 
 

 

 

"Puerto Rico’s Unnatural Disaster"

This reportage looks at the lack of pediatric care in Puerto Rico, and how it is affecting the population now, and how risky it can be for children in the future.

Fellow: Coral Murphy Marcos ('23), Puerto Rico

 

 

 

 

"A South African Soup Kitchen Is Bringing Relief to Caregivers"

This reportage looks at South African caregivers who struggle to feed their young children. It focuses on single mothers who lost their livelihood during the pandemic and are struggling to reestablish their work, and at the schemes that are trying to alleviate some of their needs and stress.

Fellow: Marcia Zali ('22), South Africa

 

 

 

"In Hong Kong’s Shoebox Flats, an Opportunity for Targeted Care"

This story highlights a community health care model that could help low-income families stuck in Hong Kong’s notorious subdivided apartments.

Fellow: Crystal Chow ('22), Hong kong