By Brighton Tchongwe
Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and DanChurchAid (DCA) have committed to improving and supporting Early Childhood Development Centers (ECDC) in the country, in efforts to enhance education and create a better environment for children.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of a training program for Early Community Development Caregivers in Mchinji District on Friday, NCA and DCA Nutrition Specialist Tiyezge Kalima said that the project aims to construct Community Development Centers (CDC’s), including water provision, in 42 locations 10 centers in Rumphi District and 32 centers in Mchinji District.
Kalima reported that the organizations have trained about 82 caregivers from both districts, which will help address challenges related to the physical, emotional, and nutritional development of children in these centers.
“The project ends next year, but we will strive to secure additional support for these ECDCs. We are collaborating closely with our government counterparts to ensure the sustainability of our interventions. We are very satisfied with the progress made in the 42 centers and hope that these caregivers will perform their duties effectively to support children’s growth across six developmental categories,” said Kalima.
In his remarks, Martin Pindankono, the Director of Economic Planning and Development for Mchinji District, highlighted the importance of Early Childhood Development initiatives.
He stated that these initiatives promote mental, physical, emotional, and nutritional development, leading to better performance in primary and secondary schools.
Pindankono noted that child development is foundational to national development, stating the need to prioritize early childhood development in Malawi.
He urged caregivers to work diligently to ensure a strong foundation for children.
“We thank our development partners for equipping caregivers with the knowledge and skills necessary to build a better foundation for children in our Early Childhood Development Centers. We encourage caregivers to work hard so that our children acquire the skills and knowledge needed for proper development,” said Pindankono.
One caregiver, Rahabe Kennedy from Chiphesi Village in Traditional Authority Dambe in Mchinji, expressed gratitude to NCA and DCA for the two-week training workshop, stating that it has helped her build new skills and knowledge in supporting children across the six developmental categories.
At the event, NCA and DCA presented certificates to all caregivers who attended the training workshop on Early Childhood Development.
