Why Kindergarten in Malawi?
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world and the Machinga District, where our kindergartens are, is a rain-dependent agricultural subsistence lifestyle area with vulnerable populations. Poverty isolates the children and they simply atrophy without food, friends or learning stimulation. Kindergarten strengthens the child with daily food, friends and caring teachers who give them a great deal of learning stimulation they wouldn’t otherwise get.
A child’s brain learns and grows at an enormous rate between the kindergarten years of 3 to 6 and access to a Project Kindy preschool sets a child up for significantly more success in school and adult life.
A child aged 6 years and under is incredibly vulnerable to malnutrition and disease and their long term effects so the provision of satisfying, nutritional daily lunch saves lives and improves health outcomes significantly.
The local community-led kindergarten model empowers the local community and engages families to take responsibility for and advocate for education as the pathway forward for their children. The grassroots partnership of Project Kindy, the Canossian Sisters and the local staff and families is a special and very compelling virtuous cycle where all involved benefit from this noble work in a sustainable way. Slowly, slowly, through respectful relationships and shared long-term commitment, we all grow in skills and knowledge which improves the outcomes for the children.
“Giving children a good start through kindergarten not only counters the worst effects of poverty, but may also be the most effective means of halting cross-generational poverty. When equity in access to early education and learning is improved, greater economic benefits accrue to individuals themselves and collectively to society.” United Nations Children’s Fund: New York, Updated in April 2012
“Malawi is one of the poorest countries globally with alarmingly high poverty levels. Malawi’s children face a difficult future with over two thirds of them deprived of basic facilities which include access to education, health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene. These severe poverty levels have serious consequences for children and women.” (Unicef: https://www.unicef.org/malawi/about-us)
“Malnutrition is a leading cause of infant and child mortality in Malawi and acute malnutrition is a major risk factor for child mortality. Nearly half of all deaths in children under 5 are attributable to undernutrition.” (Unicef: https://www.unicef.org/malawi/pillar-1-early-childhood)
“We should not think only in terms of economic growth when we try to understand poverty reduction. It is vital that we work to empower poor people to participate in the process. Empowering poor people so that they can participate in economic growth requires investments in health, in education, and in social protection as well as building institutions that enable them to participate in decisions that shape their lives.” World Bank chief economist, Nicholas Stern
“The three dimensions of school readiness are: Ready Children – children’s learning and development; Ready Schools – support a smooth transition for children into primary school; and Ready Families – parental and caregiver attitudes and involvement in their children’s early learning and development and transition to school. All three dimensions are important and must work in tandem.” United Nations Children’s Fund
Read these detailed, expertly researched reports from the Cerebral Horsepower Consultancy on the poverty in Malawi and the Early Years Education Policies and current reality in Malawi.
