Laura Peterson

Laura Peterson is the Executive Director of Hands to Hearts International. Hands to Hearts International (HHI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving of the health and well-being of orphaned and vulnerable children through improved early childhood care. HHI provides a simple, low-tech and replicable training program for organizations to apply locally to improve the early development of the world's neediest children who are just surviving in orphanages, refugee camps, and severely impoverished or conflict-ridden communities. HHI's program supports parents and direct caregivers to improve their ability to nurture a child's language, social, cognitive and physical skills. Most importantly, HHI's specialized training program enhances attachment and bonding of infants to caregivers, which establishes the base for all future relationships. Since February 2006, HHI has trained 1,222 women in India and Russia. These women are providing improved care for 10,258 orphaned and vulnerable children. (Data as of April '08) Orphanage Directors have reported that after the implementation of HHI's training, child death and illness rates went down. Additionally, if a child falls ill, they do recover faster (thereby needing less medicines). The children also showed increased weight gain and were easier to soothe. The caregivers took greater pride in their work, were seen to be more nurturing and responsive to the babies, and general hygiene and living conditions were enhanced. HHI's early results with children were so remarkable that it was requested to train teachers in the world's largest early childhood development program - India's Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). To learn more, please go to www.handstohearts.org

www.handstohearts.org

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