Increased opportunities to prepare children for formal education

 

By Nicholas Kajoba

 

Save the Children US as part of its campaign to help disadvantaged children in rural areas of Luwero and Nakasongola set up Early Childhood Development projects. According to Save the Children coordinator, Luwero office, Kenneth Kalita over 1,000 children have benefited from the project.

 

The centers were started because of the demand by parents and the community to accommodate the children that were outside the target group of nearby schools.

 

"We cover over three subcounties in Luwero district and more than 1,000 children are benefiting from the project," he said.

 

He says that children come to the center at least for two-hour sessions and study all the subjects. The school follows the normal primary curriculum but the difference is that they get holidays later. He said that schools start from primary one to two.

 

A learning centre for children in Nakasongola supported
by Save the Children US

 

Another project in Nakasongola covers Wabinyonyi sub-county,Kamukama village and Kalyakoti village. Kalyakoti and Kamukamu are the first of 20 sites established in Nakasongola district. Currently at Kalyakoti center, 33 children and older children from 37 participating families are enrolled.

 

Centers are managed by two facilitators supported by older children from nearby primary schools from CHANCE center.

 

Save the Children says that children come to the center twice a week for at least two-hour sessions conducted alongside the adult literacy sessions so that parents can escort their children to the centers.

 

Community contributions include land, locally available materials and labour for making play materials. Save the Children offers scholastic materials and facilitation to teachers.

 

Save the Children has also 73 adult literacy centers established with funding support from donors. The current enrollment is at a total of 76 male and female.

 

What is done at the center include production of reading materials for children, mobilize land and discuss and share social and economic skills.