Awa's Journey of Hope #Shift the Power
Jul 11, 2024
Story
Seeking
Connections
Sophia Assenga
Tanzania, United Republic of
Apr 28
Joined Dec 12, 2016
Awa's journey is a testament to the power of supporting women leaders at the grassroots level. By addressing the challenges she witnessed firsthand, she not only transforms her community but paves the way for a more just and equitable future.
Awa, a woman with a deep well of empathy and a keen eye for her community's needs, has always dreamt of making a difference. Having witnessed firsthand the positive impact quality ECD can have on children's cognitive development and future opportunities; Awa, with the weight of her community's needs on her shoulders and the newfound power of resources, can create a wave of positive change.
But until now, limited resources have hampered her efforts.
Imagine how her work could be transformed if power is shifted to ensure she has more resources needed:
Awa could transform her current space (where the community ECD center is housed) into a vibrant learning center. Walls adorned with colorful educational charts, shelves stocked with age-appropriate toys and books, and comfortable mats for playtime would create a stimulating environment. Driven with her bold vision to lead change, Awa started where she was with what she had. She once said; “I know it would have remained a dream if I had not been given a building by the local government to establish a community-based ECD center. Today, more than 50 children are benefiting from this program. Imagine these children could have been left behind without any opportunity for early learning”. To make this program possible, Awa relies on small donations from her friends and relatives.
With more resources, Awa could provide training workshops for herself and other caregivers on best practices in early childhood education.This would ensure high-quality care that fosters children's cognitive, social, and emotional development. Nevertheless, Awa is not an Early Childhood Development specialist but has a vision and a sincere desire to ensure that every child has a better start in life. When still young she dreamt of becoming a lawyer and the defender of children's rights. However, her family pressures her to focus on finding a husband and raising a family, viewing activism as unfeminine and a distraction from her "true duties." Till now, Awa wishes to have the opportunity to go back to school or take a short course to become an ECD professional. I met Awa a few months ago, I was so curious to know what kind of support she needs most in order to take her program to the next level. She smiled and said, "funds are important but the training opportunity is more important"
Awa could invest in outreach programs to reach more families in need of ECD services. This might involve radio announcements, community meetings, or even home visits to spread awareness about the program's benefits. Last week during the district ECD network consultation meeting, Awa had an opportunity to share her best practices with the attendees. She said, “Despite the fact that my program is held at the grassroots level, it has been widely discussed by parents whose children are enrolled at our community ECD center. This information reached a well-known children's news reporter who broadcasts on community radio. Eventually I was invited to the "Malezi'' program that airs on Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M in the morning. This was one of the great platforms I ever received so far. I couldn’t hide how emotional I was. I informed and reminded my friends and relatives to be near the radio that day to listen to me when speaking on the radio. It was my first time entering the studio. Though I was a little nervous, I spoke with confidence. I knew many people were listening to me. I have no doubt, community members must have deepened their understanding about ECD. It's my wish to get more airtime as possible to spread ECD awareness since many people can be reached at once. But I can't afford the costs of broadcasting radio programs”.
Additional resources could allow Awa to introduce sustainable practices like rainwater harvesting or solar power for her ECD center. This would not only reduce costs but also teach valuable environmental lessons to the children. Few weeks ago, health officials came to the center for a regular inspection of the center and reported the absence of hygiene facilities and clean tap water. They threatened to close the center if Awa failed to improve the environment within a month. Awa worries a lot, she doesn't know what to do or where to get help. She is not aware of what will happen to the children if the center is closed.
Proper nutrition is crucial for early childhood development. Awa could use resources to establish a community garden or partner with local farmers to provide healthy meals for the children in her program. Before the center was opened, Awa held a meeting with parents where she encouraged them to donate a small amount of money each month to enable the children to get nutritional porridge. Due to the extreme poverty in the society, only a few parents are able to contribute. Awa has been giving part of the family's income to support the costs. She once said, “many children leave home without eating anything, when they arrive at the center they start to fall asleep. Sometimes I use my money to cover the costs because I know, the cup of porridge they get here is their meal for the whole day for some children”
Awa's journey is a testament to the power of supporting women leaders at the grassroots level. By addressing the challenges she witnessed firsthand, she not only transforms her community but paves the way for a more just and equitable future.
By empowering Awa, you're not just enhancing one ECD program. You're creating a ripple effect of positive change: improved educational outcomes, empowered women as well as stronger families and communities.