Join us Friday, August 1, 2025
About the Convening
The Home-Based Family Child Care Global Learning Convening is a historic gathering of educators, advocates, and leaders from around the world hosted by the National Association for Family Child Care. This first-of-its-kind event uplifts the stories, strategies, and strengths of multilingual and culturally rooted educators who are shaping home-based child care across continents. The convening was made possible due to the generous support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & Aspen Ascend Impact Fund.
Together, we’re building bridges—recognizing that while we come from different countries and cultures, the heart of family child care is the same: relationships, resilience, and respect.
Plenary Panel: Global Voices, Shared Vision
This featured plenary brings together family child care educators from Ecuador, Bangladesh, South Africa, and the United States. Speaking from their lived experience and cultural insight, these educators expand our global understanding of home-based child care, language, identity, and leadership.
Join us as they share their why, their needs, what works in their communities, and what connects us across borders.
MEET THE PANELISTS
Bridging Continents, Building Care: A Global Learning Exchange in Home Based Family Child Care Leadership
Jackie Mader
Moderator
The Heckinger Report
Miren Algorri
FCC Union Rep
United States
Juan Pablo Guzmån
Fundación REDNI
Ecuador
Ferdousi Khanom
Early Childhood Care & Development
Bangladesh
Arleen Lambert
FCC Leader
United States
Grace Matlhape
SmartStart
South Africa
Sponsored by

WHY THE GLOBAL CONVENING MATTERS
Around the world, families face urgent challenges in accessing quality child care especially during the earliest, most foundational years of life. In every corner of the globe, it is home-based child care providers who step forward with care, commitment, and a deep connection to community.
That is why this Global Learning Convening matters.
This first-of-its-kind international gathering brings together leading voices in home-based child care (HBCC) to share knowledge, amplify impact, and build a collective vision for change. We’ve convened leaders—educators, advocates, and innovators—who are advancing family child care in their communities and countries. Together, we are here to elevate provider voices, shape bold policy agendas, and reimagine what responsive, inclusive child care can and should be.
Family child care is not only essential, it holds transformational power. It reaches children and families where they are, with culturally rooted practices, flexibility, and trust. Yet, around the world, millions of young children still lack access to the care they need. And those who provide this care, predominantly women – too often remain unseen, under-supported, and under-resourced.
This convening is about changing that reality.
We are here to strengthen the global movement for home-based child care. To share promising models. To lift up lived experience. And to co-create solutions that are grounded in justice, equity, and respect for the educators at the heart of this work.
Your leadership, collaboration, and vision are vital.
Together, we can build a future where every child thrives, every family is supported, and every home-based child care provider is valued.