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Michael Feigelson's blog

Investing in young children makes good business sense

To: The Children and Equity Network with The Communication Initiative

From Michael Feigelson - Bernard van Leer Foundation on what business can do for children and why it matters.

To respond and critique Michael's perspective or to add your knowledge on this important issue please either reply by email to this note or click Read More below and comment on the platform

Investing in young children makes good business sense

In 2007, The Lancet medical journal published an article stating that more than 200 million children under five fail to reach their potential in cognitive development because of poverty, poor health and nutrition, and lack of responsive caregiving. This statistic made the rounds in the worlds of public health, education and other segments of society generally focused on the welfare of our youngest citizens. Unfortunately, it did not achieve the same degree of penetration among one of the most powerful global communities - business leaders. Why?

The more I have spoken with business leaders around the world, the more I have come to believe the answer is related to how we tell the story. Frequently, those of us who spend our days consumed with Lancet articles and the like have committed the all too common mistake of trying to convince others to engage in an issue we love for the same reasons that moved us to action. Instead, we should have been focusing on connecting to the intrinsic motivations that move business leaders everyday. We need to explain why young children are good for business.

First, investing in young children is good for the brand.

Children and Equity