Foundation for Community Support Services (Focus) has emphasised the need to empower caregivers with skills to enable them train children to become responsible and productive citizens.
Focus executive director Kossam Munthali said this on Monday during graduation of 35 caregivers from traditional authorities (T/As) Kilupula and Kyungu that his organisation trained for 10 days.
He said the training was part of his organisation’s early childhood development (ECD) project they are implementing in the district.
Munthali said the project’s main focus is to mould children who will be responsible for the implementation of the country’s long-term development strategy, Malawi 2063.
“We are implementing an ECD project that targets children aged between three and five in established community-based childcare centres (CBCCs).
“However, we noticed that most caregivers lack skills and knowledge to instruct children; hence, the capacity building.”
Munthali said his organisation advised community members to raise funds to sustain the project when it phases out.
Karonga district social welfare officer Henry Mshanga commended Focus for equipping the caregivers with skills.
He said the capacity building will motivate the caregivers to work hard.
Mshanga, however, bemoaned the council’s shortage of staff to effectively and efficiently coordinate ECD activities as his office has 19 officers instead of 41.
“We commend the initiative because government is overwhelmed with other equally important matters that it is hard to train caregivers,” he said
The group’s president Jackson Sichome said they will utilise the skills to prepare children for primary school.
Another caregiver Ethel Simbeye said they learned how to make playing materials using locally available resources and outdoor activities for children.
With funds from Germany’s Chancen Durch Bildung, Focus also distributed smartphone tablets and solar panels to the caregivers.
