This week, I touched base with Mwaka, a peer in Zambia. She reports some similar issues and challenges with regard to ECE in Zambia that we experience in the states. Two of these primary issues being access and affordability. Specifically, Mwaka reports that "early age quality schools are very minimal and expensive... some parents register their children while still pregnant". Until recently I thought this was only something that happened in rom-com movies. However, I've hear this anecdotally in my own area, though not to the same degree, with parents getting children on wait-lists soon after birth. Mwaka reports that she registered her own daughter in 2014 "when she was 5 months for a 2017 spot" in a 3 year old room.
With regard to opportunities for professional development, Mwaka reports that they are minimal, and that those who are passionate about continuing higher education often have to seek out distance education (as she has).
Mwaka's professional goals are directly related to the above three issues (access, affordability, and education). By advancing her education and becoming aware of best practices, Mwaka is working to develop (at least) 2 early childhood development centers. One center will charger higher fees and be directly at those who can afford to pay, while the other will serve low income families and have little to no tuition fees. Her hope is to organize the business in such a way that the higher income center will aid in offsetting the costs of the lower income center. Much in the way that a for-profit organization in the states may support of fund a non-profit. With an awareness of the health issues faced by many in the population, she also plans to have at least two full time nurses on staff to assist in meeting basic health care needs of children in her care.
Mwaka's passion and compassion are deep and true. She states, "My professional hopes are to see less mothers from low income lives go
with babies in the streets selling products to earn a living. I want
to see children of all walks of life being given an opportunity to
quality education". I truly believe that Mwaka will accomplish these goals and affect positive social change in her community and country. I have been honored to share courses and correspondence with Mwaka
It is so very sad to known that so many people want the opportunity to just be educated and live a comfortable life. I really hope they can find resources to help and they try to develop a future for those families.
ReplyDeleteMwaka is fantastic. Her passion shined from her very first post when we were in our Foundations course. I genuinely hope she succeeds.
ReplyDeleteAs for the dreaded wait list...When I used to give tours for a center, I would recommend that a parent get on three lists, because many places had at least a year long list (if they were high quality centers). There were many times that I would give a tour to an expecting mother who hadn't even told her extended family yet. How horrible is that situation, where you are excited to tell your significant other and the big guy at the childcare center whom you've never met that you are expecting before you can even tell your parents or your coworkers?