A common saying in Bolivia is, “A big dream is born from a small seed.” The new Early Childhood Development Center in Cochabamba is a perfect example.
For many of the families who live in a small community near a garbage dump, the only work parents can find is collecting garbage to recycle. Others have only temporary jobs or farm work. Their children, with their parents so preoccupied and strapped for resources, have little if any access to the education and stimulation they need. The children can slip off the path to healthy development.
In 2002, a community-based organization called Obispo Anaya, ChildFund`s local partner, began offering an Early Childhood Development (ECD) program for 36 of the community`s children under 5. The most immediate problem Obispo Anaya identified was malnutrition, about half of the group suffered from it. This was a challenge, a reality to change.
“We gave the children nutritional supplements and followed their development until their health improved,” says Dolly, a teacher at the center. “Nowadays, only 2 or 3 percent of the children have this problem.”
As more and more children began to attend the ECD center, the number quickly grew to 120 within a year, the poor condition of the building that housed the program became more difficult to work around. The classrooms were too small and badly lit, and the walls needed plastering. The community began to dream of a new space for the center.
By 2011 the dream was growing and growing. Children under age 5 now had a place to play and learn. By that time, the center served about 145 children.
Edson tells us, “I like coming here and playing!” His classmate Denis hugs him. “I like playing with these new toys and with my friends,” he says.
In May 2011, there was more great news for the community`s parents and children. With support from ChildFund Alliance member Barnfonden (ChildFund Sweden), another classroom and a dining room specially designed with the needs of children under 5 in mind would be constructed. In June 2012, ChildFund International`s President and CEO Anne Lynam Goddard (pictured above) was the first to play with the center`s children and their new toys. Now, enrollment has increased to about 250 children playing and learning there.
Parents are happy about this new project because they can feel confident about the development of their children. “It`s a huge help,” says one mother, Martha. “Now I can trust where my children are.”
Jimena, another mother, says, “My child now has all this support, and this will help him improve his language skills.”
This little seed, planted a long time ago with the first 36 children, has become a big tree thanks to support from ChildFund and Barnfonden, a generous donor and the community`s families themselves.
In Ecuador, many children live in poverty. They have limited access to education and health services, and they often have no sense of how they might improve their futures. That is why David, 19, works to help children in Ecuador learn to use their voices as he has. He shares his experiences with ChildFund.
As a child enrolled in ChildFund`s “Play and Learn to Think” program, I learned to speak confidently in public and interact with other children. Nearly 10 years later, I am still benefiting from that program and working toward ChildFund`s mission to help vulnerable children living in poverty.
Currently, I serve as a member of the Federation of Community Organizations of Imbabura (FOCI). The Federation, made up of 12 individual associations from around my province, works to encourage communities to take part in making their region better for children. Small groups of parents and youth leaders, nonprofit organizations and local authorities share responsibility in developing resolutions to problems. The federation focuses on educating children, providing health services to infants, engaging youth and empowering families within their communities. I have been a part of this organization since I was 12 years old.
By the time I turned 14, people had heard about me and knew that I represented the voice of children.
I attended many workshops focusing on the needs of children and adolescents. I met many of my closest friends during that time and also made a lot of new networks. I wanted to start a similar program in my area but could not, due to lack of resources. Instead, I increased my participation in the existing workshops and learned a great deal. I even travelled outside of my province to meet new people and gain new knowledge. Sometimes these trips demanded a lot of time and I had to travel from home for days. This meant I had to leave my studies, as well. Luckily, my parents had confidence in me and understood the importance of my work.
By the time I turned 14, people had heard about me and knew that I represented the voice of children. Although I heard there was talk of forming a child and adolescents council, I was not much interested in participating at that time. It was important for me to really focus on my studies that year. But by 15, I was ready to get involved again and became a community organizer!
As a community organizer, I was heavily involved with planning summer camps for my community. I was also responsible for developing proposals for activities that were submitted to and approved by the Federation. I had to monitor the students` attendance as well as the trainers` participation in each activity. I have to say, even I could not believe the coordination I was able to manage as a single adolescent, assisted by the community mobilizer. Recognizing my own abilities, I was then motivated to continue my work for children.
Since that time, I have continued to work within the Federation`s youth council. I still also participate in workshops and courses that help increase my knowledge of the issues facing children. I have also participated in ChildFund`s CONJUVE, a youth council that holds a national meeting to address regional problems. I hope to bring together other young people from different organizations to support the needs of children.
I am grateful to the Federation and ChildFund for continuing to support my work. I aspire to continue advocating for children and adolescents while also working to become a graphic designer, an interest I uncovered at a communications workshop offered by ChildFund.
