SCALING UP ACCESS TO QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND NUTRITION FOR CHILDREN IN POOR COMMUNITIES
Date Published:
Vast number of children in Malawi are vulnerable as a result of chronic poverty, malnutrition and orphanhood. About 13 percent of Malawian children have lost one or both parents, almost half of them due to HIV,and that many of Malawi's one million orphaned children live in poor communities (Attenborough, 2012). Additionally, Malawi experiences frequent famine which has led to food shortages and contributed to high rates of malnutrition among children.
I this context, I wish I can intervene by implementing a project 'Improving Access to Quality Early Childhood Education and Nutrition for Children in Poor Commumities'. Specifically, I will focus on the following objectives: 1) To provide shelter and a conducive environment for children to access early childhood learning ; 2) To improve the nutrition status of children through the provision of food, and: 3) To empower community members with livelihoods initiatives for them to sustain the provision of quality early childhood education and nutrition to children.
To achieve the above mentioned, goal and objectives, I will mobilize community members in the within the identified catchment area to remind them. About the existing challenges of orphan hood, health and malnutrition as well as limited access to quality basic education for children in the area. I will then explain my intentions to turn the situation around by supporting them to establish a Community Child Based Care Centre (CBCC). I will ask them to be involved at all levels of implementation. In claborationwith community leaders, I will ask them to establish a gender-sensitive Management Committee which will comprise of community development workers, community leaders and other representatives. The committee shall champion the implementation of all activities i.e. construction of CBCC shelter, recruitment and training of Caregivers, enrolment of child learners, provision of food items among others.
Together with the Management Committee, we will approach government officials at the Lilongwe district Council (the District Executive Committee - Dec) where we will introduce the initiative to them and seek their blessing. The Management Committee will later be assigned with the task of identifying land for the construction of the CBCC and mobilize their fellow community members to provide other forms of free labor i.e. Fetching of water and Sand. We will recruit (paid-up) Builders and Carpenters from within the community to provide construction services. The project procure all required materials such as bricks, Cement, Quarry, and roofing timber, iron sheets, windows, doors and their frames among others. Once construction of the Centre is done, we shall ensure that the required furniture is procured and set. A Borhole and Solar power system shall be installed to provide water, light and sanitation at the Centre.
The Management committee, with the guidance of district officials, shall facilitate the process of recruiting caregivers who shall be trained to ensure quality learning of the children. The committee shall also be responsible to seek other forms of support in areas of teaching and learning materials and food for the Centre to be functional. I shall also ensure that the committee is trained in livelihoods management as one way of ensuring economic sustainability for the CBCC.
We shall establish a website where all activities being carried out will be shared with stakehders and partners.
Once the project continues to achieve its intended goals and that it's pact is being appreciated, it is my wish to expand the service to other poor communities facing the same problems at the one under service.
I this context, I wish I can intervene by implementing a project 'Improving Access to Quality Early Childhood Education and Nutrition for Children in Poor Commumities'. Specifically, I will focus on the following objectives: 1) To provide shelter and a conducive environment for children to access early childhood learning ; 2) To improve the nutrition status of children through the provision of food, and: 3) To empower community members with livelihoods initiatives for them to sustain the provision of quality early childhood education and nutrition to children.
To achieve the above mentioned, goal and objectives, I will mobilize community members in the within the identified catchment area to remind them. About the existing challenges of orphan hood, health and malnutrition as well as limited access to quality basic education for children in the area. I will then explain my intentions to turn the situation around by supporting them to establish a Community Child Based Care Centre (CBCC). I will ask them to be involved at all levels of implementation. In claborationwith community leaders, I will ask them to establish a gender-sensitive Management Committee which will comprise of community development workers, community leaders and other representatives. The committee shall champion the implementation of all activities i.e. construction of CBCC shelter, recruitment and training of Caregivers, enrolment of child learners, provision of food items among others.
Together with the Management Committee, we will approach government officials at the Lilongwe district Council (the District Executive Committee - Dec) where we will introduce the initiative to them and seek their blessing. The Management Committee will later be assigned with the task of identifying land for the construction of the CBCC and mobilize their fellow community members to provide other forms of free labor i.e. Fetching of water and Sand. We will recruit (paid-up) Builders and Carpenters from within the community to provide construction services. The project procure all required materials such as bricks, Cement, Quarry, and roofing timber, iron sheets, windows, doors and their frames among others. Once construction of the Centre is done, we shall ensure that the required furniture is procured and set. A Borhole and Solar power system shall be installed to provide water, light and sanitation at the Centre.
The Management committee, with the guidance of district officials, shall facilitate the process of recruiting caregivers who shall be trained to ensure quality learning of the children. The committee shall also be responsible to seek other forms of support in areas of teaching and learning materials and food for the Centre to be functional. I shall also ensure that the committee is trained in livelihoods management as one way of ensuring economic sustainability for the CBCC.
We shall establish a website where all activities being carried out will be shared with stakehders and partners.
Once the project continues to achieve its intended goals and that it's pact is being appreciated, it is my wish to expand the service to other poor communities facing the same problems at the one under service.
