{Evariste Hakizimana, a father of six from Gikomero Village, Gikomero Sector Gasabo District, is a subsistence farmer who has to wake up as early as 5am to tend to his garden and finds almost no time playing his role as a father.}
Speaking at the inauguration of Gikomero Early Childhood Development And Family (ECD&F) centre, yesterday, Hakizimana, 39, said the new centre has not only facilitated in taking in children whose parents are too busy, but it has also improved hygiene of infants in the community.
“With our difficult daily work, sometimes it is challenging for one to be a good parent,” Hakizimana said.
“The ECD has been so helpful in taking care of our children; giving them formal knowledge but also improving their hygiene. My child returns home all clean and he now speaks English.”
Gikomero ECD&F centre is the ninth child development centre to be launched in the country.
Under the partnership of Imbuto Foundation, UNICEF Rwanda and Ikea Foundation, the centre cost about Rwf90 million.
It has capacity to receive 300 children who spend five hours at the centre engaged in various curricula and extra-curricula activities.
Launched in 2013 by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, ECD&F centres support the holistic development of children under six through the provision of integrated health, nutrition, early learning and protection services to families and children.
Trained caregivers use an ECD package of services to assist parents and children when providing services at these ECD&F centres.
{{Plans for more centres}}`
Dolotia Musabyimana, from Gikomero Sector, a few miles from the centre, would have loved having her children attend the ECD but it’s quite far from her home.
“We need such a centre in our village too; it would be helpful in bringing out the best of characters in our children,” said Musabyimana.
Speaking at the launch, Henriette Umulisa, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, said the government’s plan is to have an ECD in every district in order to reach as many children as possible.
“We wish we could have as many ECD centres almost in every sector, but it’s not possible presently. Our target is to first reach every district and be able to reach as many parents as possible to have them learn better child care practices,” she said.
“These centres are helpful in a child’s upbringing because they offer an opportunity of discovering the children’s potential and help them grow in full character,” said Umulisa.
Child development centres will also act as model centres of excellence in child care and development, which would offer parents free child care practices, Umulisa said.
Imbuto Foundation director-general Urujeni Bakuramutsa said the ECD&F centres would be instrumental in bringing the best out of children and eventually making them responsible citizens in the future.
“Through availing such early childhood development opportunities, our children will be better prepared to begin and do well in schools,” said Bakuramutsa.
There are 1,049 children in ECD centres across the country. The target is about 3,000 kids in home-based ECDs by the end of the year, according to Bakuramutsa.
“We trained more than 200 parents to undertake home-based ECDs and 900 parents trained in income generating activities to address the sustainability of the programme and wellbeing of the children,” Bakuramutsa said.
Per Heggenes, the chief executive of Ikea Foundation, said early years of children are crucial, not only for their health but also for physical development.
Currently, ECD&F centres are located in Ngoma, Rwamagana, Gasabo, Gakenke, Nyamagabe, Nyamasheke, Kayonza, Gicumbi, Gikomero.
Three more centres in Ngoma, Kicukiro, and Ruhango are under construction, Bakuramutsa said.
The New Times
Leave a Reply