Photojournalist Adriana Zehbrauskas embarked on a journey with UNICEF, traveling to five diverse countries—Guinea-Bissau, Mexico, Thailand, Turkmenistan, and the United Kingdom—to capture fathers’ earliest moments with their newborns in delivery rooms. The goal of this project is to inspire fathers worldwide to actively participate in their children’s early years, fostering a nurturing and stimulating environment that supports optimal brain development.
Advancements in neuroscience have revealed that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life are crucial for optimal brain development. These neural connections shape cognitive abilities, health, happiness, learning, thinking, stress management, and relationship formation. Early childhood experiences, including good nutrition, protection, play, and love, stimulate these neural connections in children’s brains.
Research suggests that fathers who bond with their babies from the very beginning are more likely to actively participate in their children’s development. This involvement leads to better psychological health, self-esteem, and life satisfaction in the long run.
Photo copyright: © Adriana Zehbrauskas
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