Azueyera community gets early childhood development centre
Michael Wombeogo, the executive director of PARDA, said the project is the third of its kind in the municipality
The Participatory Action for Rural Development Alternatives (PARDA), a non-governmental organization (NGO) in the Upper East Region, has constructed an early childhood development (ECD) centre for the Azueyera community in the Builsa North Municipality.
The centre, set to benefit children within the ages of four to five years, has an office for teachers, furniture, play items, stationery and lavatories at an estimated cost of GHC505,619. The project was funded by Children Believe (CB), a child-focused NGO.
At a ceremony to handover the centre to the chiefs and people of the community, Michael Wombeogo, the executive director of PARDA, said the project is the third of its kind in the municipality after it had previously constructed two in the Kassena-Nankana West District, within three years.
Wombeogo said the ECD centre is part of the Builsa-Kassena Area Child Development Partnership programme between CB and PARDA, constructed within the planned activities for the 2023 financial year.
The executive director stated that PARDA is happy to collaborate with CB as it believes in the vision and aspirations of their organisation towards the provision of quality education for children and its importance in nation building.
He said, “a good educational foundation from early childhood ensures that every child matures as an enlightened Ghanaian and a responsible citizen destined to contribute meaningfully towards the growth and development of mother Ghana.”
Wombeogo urged the regional and district directorates of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to pay critical attention to child protection at all levels.
He said, “PARDA and her partners plead with you to ensure close monitoring of schools, utilisation of educational resources and parent-teacher awareness on the dangers of not protecting children from their early ages against social vices and challenges.”
The executive director further appealed to directors of the GES to ensure that qualified teachers are posted to the community. He called on members of the community to regard the ECD centre as their own and ensure that it is well maintained to serve generations.
Esenam Kavi De Souza, the associate country director of CB, emphasized that her outfit is focused on children. She said, “we believe that if you invest in every child, you are investing not just in the individual, but in an entire community and nation.”
De Souza said the interventions of CB are centred on breaking barriers to education, including physical access, conducive learning environment, health, water and sanitation, protection of children and gender barriers in communities.
She cautioned parents in the community that the facility is not a baby-sitting centre, noting that “it is a facility for education for children between the ages of four to five years. So, if you have children who are younger than four years, please keep them at home.”
Vida Akantagriwen Anaab, the municipal chief executive for the area, thanked PARDA and CB for the initiative. She said, “this building has really come at the right time, especially as we have falling standards of education in the municipality.”
She stated that infrastructure is critical to the promotion of quality education. She urged parents with children within the age range to enrol them in school to give them a strong educational foundation.
Nab Francis Akanbegme Asangalisa II, the paramount chief of Chuchuliga, expressed gratitude to PARDA and CB for the ECD centre and the development projects in the Traditional Area. He appealed to the government to extend electricity to parts of the area without electricity.
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