The Tika IV Early Childhood Development Center has been undergoing commendable changes through PlayMatters, which is implemented by ELECU. It should be noted that there were problems experienced during the transition from Save the Children to ELECU. Several community members found it difficult to cope with the new changes, especially regarding the self-sustainance of the center.
“Many parents before were not willing to assist the center or bring their children to school,” Keji, one of the parents, stated. This thinking stemmed from the assumption that education and schools’ resources were the sole responsibility of the NGOs and Government.
As of the present, parents are not just passive participants but active stakeholders. The parents have embarked on a journey towards self-empowerment where they have conducted classroom renovations. They have taken control over several aspects governing the Tika IV ECD, such as cleaning the compound, cooking porridge, and payment of registration fees. Each small task contributes towards the Tika IV ECD. These positive changes can be directly linked to the involvement of PlayMatters and ELECU. The role of parents is imperative since education needs to be reinforced outside the classroom setting too. Keji really has a reason to rejoice, as her efforts to reshape her outlook towards life as a mother for the welfare of her child while being a member of a supportive community have been successful in great measure.
These services have created a bond between the parents and the community. This requirement was met by the activities that the PlayMatters encouraged parents to get involved in. It was through these change motivators that the parents were able to spearhead the transformation within their households. By taking part in economic activities and initiatives spearheaded by music, parents’ unity and strength were consolidated and given direction. Keji, under the watchful guidance of PLAYMATTERS and ELECU, was transformed and lived the ideal life of a parent. The bond was instantly created. She appreciated and automatically embraced a mother’s identity, imbuing the change in her life.
One major event is the parents’ meeting organized by ELECU. During this meeting, parents understood that locally available materials could help in boosting the learning of their children. So motivated, parents came with counting sticks, banana fiber balls, and bicycle tires for play and learning. This simple yet strong change has augmented the learning atmosphere in Tika IV ECD while instilling self-worth in the parents.
“PlayMatters has assisted us parents of Tika IV ECD in appreciating the work done by our children. It has assisted, bit by bit, all of us to go from being passive recipients to taking responsibility around and supporting the learning of our children,” said Keji.
Today, Tika IV ECD Centre is a paradigm of community effort and the need for education to be sustainable. The case of Tika IV shows that if you give the community the power and the tools, there is no limit to what they can do, especially in securing the future of their children. Parents are now beginning to view themselves as critical stakeholders together with their children’s education, and this change has transformed the culture at Tika IV to that of community solidarity and respect.
Once again, we see the efforts of PlayMatters and ELECU in the Tika IV community, and this community is embarked on a course of growth and development that is sustainable, which in actual sense is demonstrable that there is reform that can actually take place when communities and organizations come together to work on a common agenda.
