ABSTRACT
Pashe Achhi (“Beside You” in Bangla), is a phone-based remote learning model for children aged 0–6 and their caregivers. Developed in response to COVID-19, the program promotes child development and child and maternal well-being in humanitarian contexts. Trained facilitators engage with families in Rohingya refugee camps and the host community in Cox’s Bazar, and elsewhere in Bangladesh. The service consists of short weekly telephone conversations, during which facilitators provide basic psychosocial support to mothers and engage young children in age-appropriate and culturally relevant playful learning activities. BRAC, a large non-profit organization in Bangladesh, has adapted Pashe Achhi several times for different crisis situations. An internal review of its remote approaches found positive results for both children and their caregivers. For example, children had more interactions with peers and showed better emotional regulation. Mothers demonstrated improved knowledge of early childhood development (ECD) and positive parenting practices and had fewer symptoms of depression. Pashe Achhi demonstrates how a high-quality ECD intervention can be developed and implemented at low cost and using limited technology. The model is easy to set up, scalable, and adaptable, and has strong potential to benefit children worldwide, especially in crisis settings or situations where quality ECD interventions do not exist.
