–donated by UNICEF to the Human Services Ministry

SOME 40,000 children under four years old, along with 20,000 parents/caregivers in Guyana, will soon benefit from quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes and family support services, as UNICEF Guyana has donated 100 ECD kits to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MOHSS).

This was announced by UNICEF Area Representative for Guyana and Suriname, Nicolas Pron, during a simple handing over ceremony held at the Children and Family Center in Sophia.
According to Pron, the initiative, funded by the Canadian government, is an ongoing effort to promote a safe and healthy learning and living environment to migrant and host communities in Guyana’s hinterland and selected coastal areas.

Each kit includes a wide range of resources to encourage playing, storytelling, numeracy and include materials for caregivers, inclusive of water and sanitation items for improved health and awareness of children. Each kit is complimented with an activity guide.

“Early childhood development is a fundamental right of every child. The first 1,000 days are the most delicate period for physical growth and brain development for girls and boys. As children thrive, entire communities grow, and a more sustainable and peaceful future is possible,” Pron said.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud who received the donation, expressed profound gratitude to the Canadian government and UNICEF Guyana for their contribution and longstanding support to children and youths in Guyana.

She highlighted that ECD kits will go a long way in supporting children, as it will be integrated in the ministry’s early childhood development day and night care programme.
“Because early childhood development is so important, we thought it fitting to [include] it with the care programme of the MOHSS introducing the new concept of night care…and these kits will be very useful because children will be in that environment for much of the day,” Minister Persaud said.
She added: “With the kits, comes the need for training and we have started that process with UNICEF. The team from MOHSS have been in the necessary meetings and trainings to develop the kind of curriculum we want to have within our [ECD] centres across the country.”

The minister also highlighted that some of the ECD kits will be utilised at a newly constructed Children’s Shelter in Region One.
“The shelter is almost completed, and we look forward to commissioning it very soon and those kits will be well-utilised there as well,” Dr. Persaud said.
Also present at the event was High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, Mark Berman who expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Human Services and UNICEF for their partnership on the ECD project.

Berman said: “Through this partnership, we are working to build community, childcare and education services and facilities in an effort to ensure those facing increased vulnerabilities do not fall further behind in recovering from the pandemic.”
Only recently, a high-level visit from the Canadian government was able to witness, firsthand, the results from the ongoing ECD project in region one, where close to 1,000 children, inclusive of over 300 migrant children in various communities in the Mabaruma Sub District, are benefitting from quality early childhood development programmes and family support services.
The programme emphasises nurturing care and early stimulation and aims to ensure children, particularly the most vulnerable, have the best start in life.