Author: Taylor Armstrong (postgraduate student; Dept of Sports, Leisure and Childhood Studies; MTU)

On the 9th of April 2025, I, Taylor Ellen Armstrong, attended the Early Childhood Research Centre (ECRC) seminar: A Global Common Good in Dublin City University (DCU). I represented OMEP Ireland alongside our wonderful OMEP Ireland president, Muireann Ranta, and our fabulous committee secretary, Chloe Hurley. The world OMEP President, Mercedes Mayol Lassalle, spoke and shared a presentation entitled ‘Early Childhood at the Heart of a Sustainable and Fair Future: Rethinking Policies, and Systems for the Post-2030 Agenda’.

Attending this seminar at DCU was a professionally enriching and thought-provoking experience that deepened my understanding of early childhood education and care from both a national and global perspective. As an advocate for children’s rights, this event offered an invaluable opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and reflect critically on the need for democracy, justice, equity, equality, inclusion, and sustainability in early childhood education and care.

Our world OMEP president, Mercedes Mayol Lassalle, provided us with her insights into the current state of early childhood education and care. I found her speech particularly powerful when she emphasised that although children are often referred to as the future generation, it is crucial to also acknowledge them as children of the present. Childhood is present, and this reality must not be overshadowed. Mercedes also stated that we should co-create a world where all children can flourish in peace, in dignity, and in harmony within nature and society.

This viewpoint strongly aligns within my own beliefs and values. Following this speech, the day included an invitational lunch and an OMEP, DCU and ECRC meeting. These elements of the day provided a significant extension of the seminar’s purpose. Knowledgeable discussions with fellow attendees, many of whom came from varied professional and academic backgrounds, broadened my perspectives and confirmed the value of collaborative interactions.

Overall, this seminar for me was a significant learning experience. Inspired by the seminar’s concepts, conversations, and the community of passionate individuals dedicated to the rights and well-being of babies, toddlers, and young children, I departed the day with a fresh sense of purpose. I wish to thank DCU, the ECRC, and OMEP for this invaluable experience.