DAPP Supported ECD Caregivers Receive Achievers Recognition
Nelia Henderson and Sheki Steven have been serving as ECD volunteers since 2001 and 2005 respectively. Nelia is a Caregiver at Katondo Nursery school while Sheki is currently an ECD Supervisor for 17 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres that are supported by Chilangoma Teachers Training College (TTC).
The two Caregivers have been recognized as ECD Achievers during the launch of the ECD Policy and ECD Advocacy Week which took place on 22 October 2018 at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe.
The event was graced by the Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Dr Jean Kalilani. A total of 75 individuals and organisations were recognized for contributing greatly towards ECD in Malawi.
Held under the theme ECD for Every Child, the Minister highlighted that the revised ECD policy is expected to improve ECD access in Malawi from 45 to 75 percent by 2023. She emphasized that the government of Malawi will continue to provide guidance and technical support whenever necessary to ensure successful implementation.
Nelia Henderson, one of the awardees said she feels proud to be part of the achievers for doing voluntary work.
“Never a day did I ever dream that doing this work would bring me this far, there are people from my community who talk ill of the work I do voluntarily but I realize that I am able to contribute to the development of Malawi by doing this. Some of the children I taught during my 17 years are now in Secondary school and it makes me proud as a Caregiver and parent to see this”, she explained.
The DAPP ECD project coordinator Gibson Abner expressed satisfaction saying the recognitions will encourage other Caregivers to work hard.
DAPP Malawi supports 85 ECD centres surrounding its four TTCs of Chilangoma, Amalika, Dowa and Mzimba. The colleges provide free training to Caregivers on how they can teach the infant learners and in production of teaching and learning materials.
