Fundraising
Reflections Nursery in Worthing, West Sussex is supporting a charity project from July 2007 to July 2009 to raise £20,000 to build and equip a pre-school for 270 children in Ghana through Plan UK, a registered charity supporting under-privileged children worldwide.
This project aims to provide access to good quality childhood care and development in the Dalanyiri community of Ghana's Upper West Region - one of the poorest areas of the country. We have raised approx £5,000 so far from the sale of children's artwork in the nursery as part of the West Sussex Artists & Makers Festival and from our Pier-to-Pier sponsored walk covering the 13 miles from Brighton to Worthing.
To donate please go to www.justgiving.com/reflections
Early Childhood Care and Development in Ghana
Update July 2008
The problem
The preschool education currently available to children living in Dalanyiri is of a very poor quality. The one existing makeshift building is too small and very unsafe, classes are generally held outside and are frequently disrupted by the weather. When the children are unable to attend preschool their parents are often forced to leave them unsupervised at home while they go to work. At school, unqualified teachers often struggle to teach with few learning resources and no play equipment. A lack of both latrines and a safe water source for the children while they are at preschool means that waterborne diseases are often easily spread. Young children are particularly vulnerable to these diseases, which can cause longterm developmental delays and prevent them reaching their full potential.
The project
This project will construct, furnish and equip one preschool in the Dalanyiri community in Ghana's Upper West Region. It will also provide play equipment for the school.
Activities so far
Pre-school construction
Construction of the pre-school has started. Funds have recently been released to the community so that roofing materials will be bought soon.
Play Equipment:
An artisan has been identified by the community and given the contract to construct the outdoor play equipment. Work is now in progress and will be completed soon.
Program Management Support:
The Unit Committee of the community was supported with training in keeping financial records and the mobilization of community members.
Community Participation:
There has been high level of community participation since the commencement of the project. Meetings were organized at the community level for children, women and men to contribute in the discussions for decisions to be taken towards project implementation. All able men and women participated actively in the mobilization of local materials (sand, water and stones) for the construction. During the construction, community members supported the artisans through out the process.
Photos of the current construction work:
Challenges
The major challenges faced during the implementation of the project have been inadequate supply of water in the dry season since the community has only one borehole and the community streams got dried up. Also community members have to walk for long distances before they could get stones to gather for the work.
Conclusion:
The community members are enthusiastic about the project. The money that has just been released to the community will help them complete the third stage of the block and the play equipment.