Community at the Core: ARNEC 2025 Showcases Grassroots

Resilienceapac – Community at the Core was the defining message of the ARNEC 2025 Regional Conference, where early childhood development (ECD) experts from across Asia–Pacific came together to spotlight the powerful role of community-led initiatives in nurturing young children and building resilient support systems.

Held under the banner of inclusive development, the conference highlighted the urgent need for grassroots involvement in early childhood programs. Central to this discussion was the Tanoto Foundation, which presented two impactful models: Rumah Anak SIGAP in Indonesia and HOPE in China. Both initiatives empower local families and caregivers in rural and underserved communities to lead early childhood parenting practices, with encouraging results.

Grassroots Parenting, Real Results

At the heart of Tanoto Foundation’s approach is the belief that meaningful change starts when communities take ownership. The Rumah Anak SIGAP program in Indonesia has reached more than 3,000 children through 29 locally-managed service centers. These centers not only provide parenting education but also promote community engagement and shared responsibility for a child’s development.

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Recent evaluations show that children participating in the program in rural areas experienced an average developmental improvement of 1.06 points, nearly double that of their urban peers outside the model. This success is a testament to what’s possible when Community at the Core becomes more than a slogan it becomes practice.

Scaling Up a Regional Vision

Beyond Indonesia and China, the conference spotlighted similar grassroots efforts from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Nepal. Whether through mobile learning units, village-based playgroups, or local health partnerships. These community-led efforts are proving to be effective, sustainable, and deeply aligned with local needs.

ARNEC 2025 positioned these programs as a blueprint for future policy design. Arguing that national ECD strategies should start with local insight not end with it.

Putting People First

As Asia–Pacific countries face growing inequalities in early childhood services. Community at the Core is emerging as a guiding principle for long-term impact. By elevating community voices and giving families the tools to lead. ARNEC 2025 has laid the groundwork for a future where every child regardless of where they live has a strong start.

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