Core issues of ECOLI Projects
Elimu Community Light (ECOLI) is response to lack of proper care and development of children specifically in the Arusha municipality community. The organization envisions a Tanzania with educated and developed citizens and has its mission to advocate for the provision of ECD to children aged 0-8 years, impart knowledge and skills on positive care-giving and develop models of good practice in caring and developing for small children. Two central beliefs inform the work of ECOLI they are that the nation which is developing depends on its educated and skilled citizens and also that the foundation of adulthood is built in early childhood. ECOLI’s theory of change is based on creating awareness, innovation and change while model of change is through promoting awareness and change on ECD that enable young children to access quality care, protection and development through implementing projects and programs that improve the well being of the children in the community. The dream of ECOLI is to one day children can receive quality ECD in all 20 wards of the Arusha Municipality and eventually maybe move beyond that. If the need for developing young children could be better understood by all and ECD would be invested in, then ECOLI would be able to rest. However, this is not yet the reality and ECOLI would like to grow in its influence to advocate for young children and lobby for provision of quality ECD that is available and accessible to all. This is all just a means, of course, for developing Tanzanian society as a whole and ensuring future success by putting forth the effort to take care of the upcoming generation of Tanzanian citizens.
ECD in Tanzania and Arusha at a glance
Although currently ECD has been placed on the development agenda and it has become part of plans, direct changes as a result have yet to be seen here in Tanzania and Arusha specifically. The situation states that majority of the pre-primary schools attached to primary schools are poorly resourced and over 80% of ECD centers are unregistered and in poor condition. Attendance at these schools may in fact do more harm than good for a child’s development. The lack of ECD curriculum, supplies and play materials, absence of trained teachers and the tendency to teach didactically and focus on literacy and numeracy skills make the learning environment developmentally inappropriate. Research shows that “in primary schools, an average of 10% of children in Standard One are repeaters, indicating that children had not been prepared for school, that the curriculum content is inappropriate or that teachers are poorly trained to cope with induction classes. It would be an exaggeration to say that the status of ECD in Tanzania is in shambles but there is clearly room for significant improvement of how ECD activities are actually conducted in terms of appropriateness, professionalism, and equity. The need for quality and accessible ECD provision in Tanzania is more than evident. ECD is in a sorry state and the children are suffering but the solution has been identified and groups are working on changing the situation, example ECOLI.
What ECOLI do?
ECOLI has committed to ensure that Tanzania’s children are not failed but rather receive the adequate preparation they need. No one wins when the children lose. They become a burden, rather than an asset and simple investment early on can save much greater expenses later on, both in terms of finances and human capacity. In order to eliminate the above said situation, intervention has taken by ECOLI to support and build the capacity of ECD day caretakers and teachers in Arusha municipality who will in turn build the capacity of children and the communities as a whole. ECOLI is offering them capacity building course with contents include training on a holistic approach on ECD service needs. Overall, the course could be seen as divided into six primary units: knowledge of child psychology; special curriculum for how to care, teach and educate young children; early childhood care and development (ECCD) perspectives at the center and in the community; organization administration and management under human resource management concepts; basic health education; and research conducting skills. Theoretically and practically ECOLI had trained a total of one hundred and thirty eight (138) ECD care takers and teachers up to date. This program had been brought a significant of improvement of ECD and change in the community.
What ECOLI need?
Unfortunately critical poverty among community members, poor infrastructures, inadequate teaching aids and resources leads trained ECD professionals to fail in implementation of their activities. Currently ECOLI aims to empower and innovate ECD services in the community through promoting, senstaizing and improve ECD practitioners to provide children needs at their day care and pre school centers that include teaching aids/materials, nutrition food, health monitoring etc. In order to fulfill this, ECOLI needs donors who will support this project program just because the outcomes of education and investment in children are now. In fact, making the mistake of inadequately addressing children’s needs is likely to result in further problems in the future that are more expensive to fix and can have horrible consequences. ECOLI has identified THEMSFF as a potential development partner in this project program. ECOLI will be excited if you will accept this proposal/request for further communication.
What we need to achieve
The organization’s vision is to see a Tanzania with educated and developed citizens through enhancing the capacity of marginalized groups by linking them with opportunities while advocating for quality education that is affordable and accessible for all. As ECOLI’s belief that the foundation for adulthood is built in early childhood and a nation which is developing depends on its educated and skilled citizens. ECOLI is presently seeking support to complete its strategic plan for growth, expansion, and enhancement of its ability to provide services to more children and families in Arusha’s most marginalized community. Long-term goals are to establish model centers in every ward that provide exemplary ECD services and are community resources for information and education on the specific needs of children. ECOLI wants to sow the seeds in children to turn them into Tanzania’s future thoughtful and critical citizens; citizens who are able to break free from the shackles of poverty and develop themselves.