11 Dec 2017

Lady Khama Charitable Trust in partnership with Raising Education Within Africa (REWA), have capacitated volunteer mothers with early childhood development programmes.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of eight volunteer mothers at Gamodubu Childcare Trust on December 9, founder and director of REWA, Ms Priyanka Handa Ram said the two organisations worked together to facilitate early childhood development and introduce play groups in disadvantaged communities across the country.

The new programme, which is at pilot stage, she said had been introduced to three pilot communities namely Bontleng, Gamodubu and Gopang, after which the programme proved successful and will be rolled out to communities across the country.

So far, Ms Ram said they had trained eight mothers from the three above-mentioned communities to become facilitators of the programme.

The programme, she said was aimed at teaching targeted early childhood programmes in areas of childhood health, nutrition, special needs and positive behaviour management, among others.

Facilitators had also been trained to teach children as little as 18 months on language skills, numeracy through play and motor skills so that they can be ready for school at age six. 

The women had been taught to make their own resources from their natural environment and recycled materials to lesson costs.

The teaching programme in the three communities is expected to start in February 2018 and REWA would monitor the programme on monthly basis for successful implementation.

Board member of Gamodubu Childcare Trust, Ms Tshidi Ralokowa mentioned that the centre started in 2004. 

The founder, Ms Shirley Madikwe started with one child under a tree, but over the years the centre got support from various organisations and private companies. BIHL contributed the multi purpose hall. 

She however explained that the centre does not have any source of funds, but she said that they had plans to come up with income-generating projects to sustain the centre.

Dr Lucky Odirile from the University of Botswana explained that the centre had over the years enjoyed support from UB and had met the founder in 2004. 

The support, she said, was done by different students from different faculties and various student clubs.

She further explained that students raised funds and brought food, clothing and toiletries to the centre, adding that such support had been going on for a good number of years.

Dr Odirile nonetheless mentioned that they wanted to teach a Motswana child to learn to serve and love their communities.

“Today we want to support the volunteers and say you are very special,” she emphasised.

She said Ms Madikwe was teaching everyone that ‘these are our children’, therefore they needed to be cared for.

As the university she said ‘we are saying we also care’, while learning the importance of sharing what they had. 

The university had also supported the centre with school uniform and they at times spent time with the children and provide soft skills.

Meanwhile, Ms Madikwe said she was humbled by the continued support from various organisations and that they had learnt a lot during a six-week period of training.

“We can’t wait to start teaching,” she said. 

She further thanked all the sponsors for their supporters. ENDS