Wat mengs du ? – It takes a whole village to bring up a child

When I speak to teachers, educators or parents, almost all of them make the same observation: supporting children seems to have become far more complex than it used to be. There are many different needs and very different circumstances. Take, for example, the debate surrounding inclusive education. There are many discussions, and expectations are sometimes at odds with one another. There are those who support it and those who feel it has become too complicated. But what if the real debate lies elsewhere?

Inclusion, like any other issue concerning children, cannot rest solely on the shoulders of teachers, educators or political decisions. It is a collective responsibility. Of course, political decisions provide the framework and, I must say, this framework often lacks the flexibility needed to support children in a way that respects their needs. It is not responsive enough to the realities faced by children and their families.

As in many other areas, we invest more in remedying problems than in preventing them. We wait until situations become critical before taking action, whereas early support would often prevent a great deal of suffering. All too often, we find ourselves playing the role of firefighters…

Prevention and raising awareness should play a far more significant role in our society. Parents should be supported from the very earliest stages of their children's lives. Where difficulties arise, local support should be available: caring, attentive people who can help families feel less helpless in the face of certain realities. I believe we too often forget that behind words which have become almost clichéd through overuse – such as 'inclusion' – lie children and families who simply want to be fully part of our society. Children and families with the same rights, the same needs and the same aspirations as each and every one of us.

So, what is our role in all this? Every day, we have a choice. We can be part of the problem or choose to be part of the solution. Of course, it's complex. But simply pointing out the difficulties won't make them go away. What drives change is the determination not just to talk about the values that are meant to unite us, but to put them into practice every day. It means being aware that we are role models for the children around us. It means knowing that the task may be tough, but that together, obstacles can be overcome.

What if we collectively decided to become more caring and empathetic people, people ready to understand rather than to judge? It won't solve all the problems. But it will bring a little gentleness. And I believe that is precisely what we lack most today.

Yes, raising a child is difficult. Perhaps that is why it takes a whole village. What if the village referred to in that African proverb were not a place, but a way of looking at others and choosing, every day, to make room for them?