Project Overview
The Mobile Kindy program, delivered in partnership with Child Benefit, aims to provide children living in informal settlements around the capital of Suva with access to high quality and inclusive early childhood education. These settlements are home to diverse communities who have moved to Suva due to a number of ‘pull’ factors (e.g. potential employment opportunities) and ‘push’ factors (e.g. climate change). Communities are largely transient, and can be challenging places to live due in large part to the break down of traditional community structures which are so central to Fijian life. For children in these communities, access to basic services is a huge challenge due to the lack of registration and formal identification. Most children therefore do not have access to education in their early years. Mary MacKillop Today has therefore partnered with Child Benefit to expand their Mobile Kindy program to 3 new settlements to bring the joy and life-changing impact of education to these communities.
Activities
- Mobile Kindy classes are delivered 2-3 days per week in participating settlements
- Community-based volunteers are identified and trained to implement basic early childhood classes for children
- Parents participate in quarterly parent education sessions focusing on themes such as health and sanitation, child development, child protection and positive discipline
Impact
- Children have access to high quality early childhood education in their community
- Parents develop new skills and knowledge to support their children’s learning and development
- Whole communities understand the importance of early education in building positive futures for children
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