The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MOHSSS), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)in Guyana, and supported by funding from the Canadian government, recently concluded a one-week Early Childhood Development (ECD) capacity building session.
This initiative aimed to empower Registration and Licensing Officers, Child Protection Officers, and Primary Caregivers nationwide with enhanced skills and knowledge crucial for nurturing the holistic development of young children.
The comprehensive training covered a spectrum of essential topics, including Early Childhood Development Practices, Schedules and Routines for Childcare Settings, Portfolio Assessments for Registration and Licensing Officers, and the pivotal role of play in the formative years of a child. Moreover, participants engaged in a specialized session on maximizing the utilization of the 100 early childhood development kits generously donated the previous year.
At the certificate ceremony, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, commended the participants for their commitment and emphasized the importance of disseminating their newfound knowledge to peers and parents within their respective regions. She underscored the potential for elevated childcare standards across all regions of Guyana and expressed gratitude to UNICEF and the Canadian government for their unwavering support in enhancing childcare delivery services.
“I have no doubt that we will see the elevation of care as it is provided across all the regions in Guyana. For many regions it may be newer than others, for other regions it may require changing things a little differently moving with the fast-paced progress of our country so that we can provide what is needed for the parents and children of today’s generation,” she said.
Nicolas Pron, Area Representative of UNICEF Guyana and Suriname, was also present during the workshop and emphasized the fundamental rights of children to health care, nutrition, protection, early learning opportunities, and responsive caregiving. He expressed confidence that the training equipped participants with the necessary tools to champion the crucial first 1000 days of a child’s life and foster positive outcomes in childcare facilities.
Mark Berman, Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana and Suriname, also lauded the collaborative efforts to advance early childhood development initiatives in Guyana. He announced Canada’s commitment to a CAD$9.5-million-dollar collaboration with the Guyanese government to train two thousand students in the technology sector, recognizing the interconnectedness between quality education and early childhood development.
Participants hailed the training sessions as enlightening, acknowledging the acquisition of new techniques to enhance their interactions with children and parents. Orette Francois, a Child Protection and Senior Probation and Social Services Officer, expressed gratitude for the invaluable knowledge gained, while Duanne Mc Farlane, a Registration and Licensing Officer, pledged to share newfound insights with daycare centers to enrich service delivery.
Huette Moore, a Senior Childcare Officer, highlighted the significance of addressing contemporary challenges faced by daycare facilities and caregivers to promote optimal child development.
In a bid to further bolster early childhood development initiatives, UNICEF handed over 300 banners to MOHSSS, featuring Positive Early Childhood Development messages in English, Spanish, and Warrau languages.
These banners are set to be prominently displayed in childcare facilities nationwide, reinforcing the importance of nurturing environments for children’s growth and development.
