The Releasing Confidence & Creativity (RCC): ECD Programme is more than just a simple Early Childhood Development project or a social-sector undertaking. It is a growing endeavor by a number of educationists, professionals, teachers, children and parents towards a single goal - to provide children with good start in life - in terms of affection and appreciation, opportunities to communicate, play and learn, good nutrition and healthcare.
With its focus on sound education & health (physiological, mental & emotional) facilities for all children, RCC is a programme that upholds the ‘ECD’ belief that the most decisive years for the development of a child are the years from the time of the mother's pregnancy to the time that the child is around 8 years old.
• The beginnings of a successful collaboration – RCC Phase I & II
The inspiration for the RCC: ECD Programme has been a plan to improve the learning environment for children who went to katchi classes. The idea was supported in Pakistan in the year 2002 with the sponsorship of the Aga Khan Foundation (Pakistan) and USAID. The idea was then implemented in more than 155 schools in Sindh and Balochistan by the shared efforts of six local NGOs.
With immense emphasis on child-centered activities the RCC: ECD Programme helped teachers understand how to enhance learning capabilities within all children. RCC has also been facilitative in instilling parents and caregivers with an enhanced sense of confidence in their own abilities for their children’s upbringing. In addition, RCC has spearheaded the advocacy for Early Child Education and Development as a non-negotiable issue in terms of national educational policies.
• Expanding ECD efforts in Pakistan - RCC Phase III
The RCC: ECD Programme continues to expand and move ahead, this time with the support of the Royal Netherlands Embassy – Pakistan along with the continued support of the Aga Khan Foundation (Pakistan). With a considerable 5-year experience at the grassroots and at the policy-making level, the RCC: ECD Programme has gathered more momentum and energy. The third phase of the programme will be focusing on more than 250 schools across Sindh, Balochistan, Northern Areas and Chitral.
In addition, during the years 2007 to 2011, the RCC: ECD Programme would be working on vital issues such as developmentally appropriate education, diverse learning, community development, inclusive education, child development and growth, parental participation, improving living conditions of children and more. Hence; the magic of the RCC: ECD Programme continues…
• Goals/vision
Incorporate and institutionalize a range of replicable supports for children’s overall development as confident, capable, creative and caring people as an integral part of the education system and of the way communities operate.
• Objectives
o Expand the access and improve the quality of teaching/learning in katchi classes and classes 1 and 2 (with an emphasis on reaching girls and poor communities)
o Develop a range of approaches which assist families and communities to increase their knowledge and skills, and their confidence in their abilities to support their children’s development
o Build the capacity and commitment of key stakeholders at different levels, particularly within the education system
o Influence ECD policy and practice and strengthen ECD learning networks
• Primary Areas of Intervention
o Early learning interventions for children of katchi, grade 1, 2 and 3
o Health interventions to ensure good mother and the child health
o Advocacy and awareness-raising of good child-rearing practices
o Capacity building of teachers to be better caregivers in the classroom
o Training teachers to use positive, child-friendly and activity-based methods while teaching
o Improvement of the classroom environment and provision of engaging and interactive classroom material
o Assisting partner communities in establishing structures that provide financial, managerial and other professional support
For more information on the program log on to www.ecdpak.com
