Preschool founder Fela Barcliff wins David Award worth $ 200,000

The founder of a New York preschool teaching children their African heritage is one of five winners of the David Prize 2021, an annual $ 1 million

Preschool founder Fela Barcliff wins David Award worth $ 200,000

The founder of a New York preschool teaching children their African heritage is one of five winners of the David Prize 2021, an annual $ 1 million award for select New York City residents. Fela Barclift founded Little Sun People 41 years ago after seeking a racially balanced preschool for her one-year-old daughter.

"I went to at least 10 different kindergartens and didn't find a brown doll, book with black people in it, or brown people. I couldn't find any posters or pictures of anyone who looked like them." Barclift realized that he had to create the kind of preschool he was looking for all the time.

"I'm going to create a place where there is a school for her, at least until she's ready for kindergarten, where she can have some brown dolls, where she can have some picture books. In fact, it had the color in the story books.

 I have a small team of parents and we just color some picture books and change our hair. " Little Sun People started out small, but has grown over the years. Now up to 60 waiting list children can register. And her one-year-old daughter is now a teacher at the school.

 "We stick to the curriculum and make sure we meet the standards of what our children should have in the future. But beyond that we bring in a lot of history, culture, forms, information, perspectives, reflections from people who are people of color, you know, in the present and in history. Barclift says children acquire the building blocks of life between birth and the age of five.

She believes her curriculum helps children of color develop a sense of pride. “We're just making the connections our kids can be proud of. That kind of, I think, is like an inhibition and foundation that helps them deal with a very systemic racism that they face if they change in the near future. "Barclift says. The David Award seeks out New York residents with the courage and vision to change the future.

 Each winner will receive $ 200,000 for two years. The award is named after the Brooklyn developer David Walentas and is funded by his family's foundation. Barclift was selected from the 5,000 nominees.

 “The David Award is like the first chance to really be seen, to go outside and stand up. Barclift plans to use the prize money to create an Afrocentric curriculum that it can share with fellow educators. His hope is to spread the curriculum across the country.