Bright futures accommodated

Elizabeth Joseph The Anglo American Namibia Foundation (AANF) handed over a new ECD centre at Gibeon in late December and says that children have the right to a good, solid foundation and education in a safe and nurturing environment. During the event, the foundation coordinator, Richard Cook said that it is always a pleasure for him to be a part of projects of this nature. The ECD centre was a joint effort between the Gibeon Village Council, Namibian government (MGEPCW), and the AngloAmerican Namibia Foundation. "The investment in ECD has been the signature project of the AANF for the last 9 years and we have been seriously invested in this sector. We are particularly proud of the work we have done in this ECD space, not only through our contribution to local infrastructure but more importantly by investing in the basic education of the Namibian child," Cook said. The plan that started as a discussion involved having one centre for the community of Gibeon, which has 4 classrooms to accommodate the 3 existing centres at the time. “The building is an AngloAmerican design. Four classrooms with a storeroom in each of them, a kitchen for the preparation of light meals, and adequate bathroom facilities. “There is a play park with a carport as well as a sandpit with a carport for the protection of the children against the heat. “Furthermore, the centre is fully equipped with all the kindergarten play material, kitchen furniture as well as office furniture. The building is equipped with safety doors for all the classrooms." The foundation alongside the rest of the stakeholders signed an MOU and the 3 existing kindergartens moved into the new kindergarten.The ECD centre is owned by the Gibeon Village Council and subsequently looks after the maintenance of the building. The deputy minister of gender equality, poverty eradication, and social welfare, Bernadette Jagger, said investment in ECD centres will yield a tremendous return on investment in the long run."Children who are exposed to early childhood development services are more successful at school, are unlikely to drop out of school, have better chances to find employment, achieve higher earnings as adults, are healthier, are less dependent on welfare assistance and are unlikely to involve in lawless or criminal activities, compared to those who missed out on those early development opportunities," she said. Jagger further commended the foundation for their continued support to the communities in the Hardap region."I would like to call on parents and caregivers to enrol their children at the newly constructed centre and to ensure adherence to Covid 19 guidelines at the centre. The Ministry will strive to provide some Covid 19 Preventative Protective Equipment (PPEs)," she said. caption 1:Hon Lucia Witbooi, Richard Cook, Bernadette Jagger and Hardap governor Salamon April.PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Bright futures accommodated

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