6 months, 6 reflections

Here are some personal reflections on how our staff have been experiencing the Jumpstart! programme. For more details and personal insight from our staff, keep your eyes open on facebook and twitter as we will upload 6 reflections in total but one by one, within the next few weeks!

Reflection #1: Ever wondered what our staff is actually doing within the Jumpstart! project? Here is Maxwell, our ECD Programme Officer (on the left), reflecting on his main task and activities:

“My main responsibilities in the Jumpstart! project are to monitor and provide technical support to the ECD centres as well mobilise and sensitise the community about the important of ECD. This may include activities such as providing school based technical support to the caregivers, giving specific refresher trainings in: child protection, making Teaching and learning materials (TLMs) sanitation, gender sensitivity, etc., giving some caregivers continual professional development and mentoring on-site, conducting community mobilization and sensitization on the important of ECD, or working with parents to address centres needs, e.g. simple resource provision and midday meals.”

Reflection #2: Here is Richard, our Education Programme Coordinator, explaining why Jumpstart! is important:

“Jumpstart is important for several reasons. First of all, to improve on the pass rate at primary level there is need for a good beginning right at childhood and that was the missing link which Jumpstart is now fulfilling. Secondly, children need a child friendly learning space which jumpstart is trying to ensure. Thirdly, any good school is dependent on the quality of teachers who are well prepared to teach children with a moral purpose to develop the potentials in children (cognitive, social, emotional and physical development). Jumpstart is emphasising this which makes it very special. Fourthly, through early education Jumpstart ensures girls have equal opportunities to achieve their dreams like boys through reduced absenteeism and drop out. Fifthly, ECD education is not yet supported by government and therefore, parental engagement is a big requirement to ensure caregivers are paid, and that children have meals and support from home as well. Jumpstart is heading in the right direction through appropriate mobilisations.”

Reflection #3: Find out what Monica, our ECD Programme Officer, likes best about her work in the Jumpstart! programme:

“I love impacting on people’s lives. The smiles that the project is putting on the faces of the children, their caregivers and the parents gives me great satisfaction. Seeing the changing faces of the classrooms and school environment makes me happy. The children are learning better, and more confident.”

Reflection #4: Our Education Programme Coordinator, shares his favourite memories of Jumpstart! so far. 

“My favourite memories of Jumpstart! are of the parents’ and communities’ appreciation and understanding of the importance of ECD education during community sensitization; the commitment of parents in ensuring they are committed to their roles through providing additional needs of the school e.g. construction of classrooms, tree planting and scholastic materials for their children. Also, seeing the improvement in the quality of teaching as teachers are showing commitment through lesson planning and teaching to standard methodologies after training in various skills, and the creativity by caregivers in developing learning and playing materials. Finally, it has been great to see the interaction of caregivers during the workshop to ensure that they provide the necessary environment required for children like e.g. through applying the ‘Having a party’ practice.”

What is the ‘having a party’ practice?  Well, when you organise a party, how do you prepare? Say, in some minutes the guest are arriving, so what do you expect the guest to find? They will tell you should be in the right mood, you should be waiting for them, you should show them that you are expecting them, you should actually greet them as they come with e.g. “you’re welcome”; show them their places etc.. All this is part of having a party. Now, as a caregiver you have a daily party, because the visitors are the children. So when they come in, you need to meet them, they should find you ready, they should find you smiling. You should greet them and say ‘Yes, Akelo, how is mum, how is dad? … Good!”, “Come in!” – greet each one of them and they will be in the right mood and first of all, be ready for your guests, your children. Also the way you are for your party matters! It’s a party, which is meant for the young ones, and they need colours, attractive colours! And also the mood, you know these children are very intelligent. They look at you and think “Hm, this one is not approachable, not in the right mood”. So you need to put yourself in the right mood for children. And also do lots of plays, stories and be prepared.

Reflection #5: Here’s a personal reflection of the last 6 months from Maxwell, our ECD Programme Officer, enjoy!

“I can see that the community understanding and participation in ECD has greatly improved as the number of community members volunteering themselves to do manual work at the ECD centres eg slashing compound, planting trees, sinking latrines etc. has increased; and for example in Wilacic and Koch Lila ECD centres, parents have agreed that every Friday they go to work at the ECD centres. My two favourite memories of the last 6 months Jumpstart! was watching young children participating in bottle filling game at Goma PS ECD and when I was attending a lesson with children, to see how the caregivers conduct their lessons and the caregiver in one of the centres was exceptionally good.

Reflection #6: This time, Monica, our ECD Programme Officer, tells us about two examples of change, she witnessed, enjoy!

“In Nwoya Public nursery school, the head of nursery had remained alone after 2 of her staff left the school. The parents’ participation had also dwindled. With intervention of Jumpstart!, hope was rebuilt, new caregivers were recruited and the parents are now fully engaged in supporting the nursery school. They come every Tuesday to support the school.”

“In Anaka Pre-Primary School, the explosion in enrolment speaks volume. The enrolment has more then doubled since 2014. From 46 pupils by end of 2014, the figure now stands at 108. The parents are very supportive; attend meetings in large numbers whenever called upon.”

Thank you for your support!

Happy 6 Month Jumpstart! Anniversary!