Korean NGO for improved ECD

The Lighthouse Foundation (LHF), a Korean non-governmental organization (NGO) says it is working on improving the capacity of child care givers in Traditional Authority (TA) Chigaru in Blantyre.

The NGO organized a two-week training for 30 caregivers in conjunction with Association of Early Childhood Development in Malawi (AECDM) focusing on helping the caregivers to effectively organise play areas in their classrooms, develop activity plans, as well as design daily programs and themes for a conducive learning environment.

Speaking during a graduation ceremony marking the end of the training on Saturday last week, executive secretary for LHF, Cho Il thanked the caregivers for demonstrating a hard working spirit throughout the training.

“As of now, we have trained a total of 138 caregivers since 2013 when we started our work in Chigaru area.

“Some of our work focuses on the remuneration package for ECD workers to improve their lives and conditions of work,” she said.

Apart from nursery school teachers training program, LHF is also supporting more than 3 000 children in three primary schools in the area by supplying text books, first aid kits and educational materials for both students and teachers.

A trainer at AECDM, Maureen Katola sounded a strong need for the country to have well trained caregivers to take care of children.

“We train them so that they can make big changes in their nursery schools. They can organise play areas, some will develop daily programs, some will influence communities to assist in the ECD activities and many other activities,” said Katola.

She said after a period of three months, her organisation will make a follow-up on how they are working in their areas.

The work of LHF is being funded in Malawi by the Korean Ministry of the Interior and Safety.