NURTURING YOUNG MINDS: Children at the newly inaugurated ECD centre celebrate as they begin their journey to a brighter future. PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED
NURTURING YOUNG MINDS: Children at the newly inaugurated ECD centre celebrate as they begin their journey to a brighter future. PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Palms for Life inaugurates ECD at Bravo settlement

N$5.3 million early education centre opens doors
Over 100 children from as young as two and up to six years old will benefit from the newly opened Langman Tame Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre.
Nikanor Nangolo
The Palms for Life Foundation continues its mission to empower Namibian children through access to age-appropriate education and developmental support.

The foundation, a non-profit organisation aimed at bridging the digital divide in education, enhancing food security and providing access to essential services such as water and sanitation, last week inaugurated the Langman Tame Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre in the Bravo Resettlement Area, Mpungu constituency in the Kavango West Region.

The facility, built at a cost of N$5.3 million, will serve over 100 children, offering them quality educational resources and support. The centre includes two fully equipped classrooms, an office, a kitchen, a storeroom, and ablution facilities. Three local youth were selected and trained to serve as teachers, while children and caretakers will receive two meals a day.



Critical education stage

In addition, the foundation handed over another ECD centre, valued at N$5.2 million, to the Farm Six Settlement in the Oshikoto Region. This marked the 10th ECD facility built by the foundation in Namibia and the second in Oshikoto, following an earlier project in August at Ondera Settlement Farm.

The centre features two classrooms, an office, a storeroom, a restroom with a shower, teaching aids, books, toys, and a kitchen that provides daily breakfast and lunch for the children.

Although the facility is designed to eventually accommodate 100 learners, it currently serves 65 registered children, with three teachers in place.

At the inauguration, deputy minister of Marginalised Communities Royal |Ui|o|oo highlighted the importance of such centres for the country's indigenous and marginalised communities. He also urged parents to ensure their children are enrolled and to take ownership of the facility as a vital community asset.

The Palms for Life Foundation’s country coordinator Kingston Makoni stressed the critical role of early childhood education, noting that children who access quality education early are more likely to advance to secondary school and beyond.

He added that the centre comes in response to high dropout rates among learners from marginalised communities.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-22

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