The European Commission, the OECD and UNICEF are unanimous in their recommendations on the need for investment in education and care in the early years of life. Integrated approaches, which focus on personal, social and cultural skills, healthy and balanced development, both physical and cognitive, as well as emotional, enable the development of life projects that help mitigate the disadvantages children and young people are born into.
As such, the action strategy designed by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation for this area seeks to address not only the early year needs of children, but also those as they grow, focusing on prevention, better care and working with families.

Our goals:

• Greater protection against increased risk factors;
• Reduce inequality and maximise opportunities for the most disadvantaged children;
• Better conditions for the full development of children and young people.