WINDHOEK, 16 FEB (NAMPA) – The Capricorn Foundation recently made an N.dollars 400 000 donation to the Development Workshop Namibia (DWN) for its project titled ‘Improving the Quality of Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Informal Settlements, Developing Early Literacy, and Enhancing Play-Based Learning’.
The funds will be used to upgrade 10 of the 56 ECD centres that DWN supports in the Oshakati informal settlements, with the various infrastructure developments to directly benefit 300 children at the centres. An additional 1 400 children from 46 ECD centres in Oshakati will benefit from shared library services.
DWN is a Namibian NGO that focuses on sustainable urban development, informal settlements and the underserved communities that live in them.
The organisation’s ECD project is part of an ECD programme that collaborates closely with the gender and education ministries to develop and test approaches that contribute to larger national programmes.
Marlize Horn, Group Executive for Brand and Corporate Affairs and Acting Head of the Capricorn Foundation, in a media statement on Wednesday said that the Capricorn-funded ECD project, which will be completed by June this year, will see developments in physical improvements of 10 ECD centres through infrastructure improvements; establishment of micro-libraries at 10 ECD centres to provide literacy opportunities; and training of 120 ECD teachers through pedagogic workshops.
“The Capricorn Foundation is dedicated to improving the learning environments of Namibian children and teachers. High-quality early childhood development lays a solid foundation for children’s future education,” she said.
She explained that with many centres in Oshakati in need of assistance, the 10 centres will be chosen based on best practice criteria combined with the teacher’s passion for ECD and interaction with young children.
“These locations will then be designated as Beacons. Beacon ECD centres will act as representatives for their neighbouring ECD centres within their cluster or community,” Horn said.
(NAMPA)
CW/PS