Shupikile Mkandawire lives in Chikwina, Nkhata Bay North with her husband and 3 kids. Illiteracy is a major development barrier for poor and isolated communities in this part of rural Malawi, putting pressure on parents to support their children through preschool.
The few existing preschools in the area are very under-resourced. Our previous education work has highlighted very high rates of primary school dropouts, largely due to children entering primary school underprepared with little or no literacy and numeracy ability.
The chief met with Temwa to see what could be done to work with communities on Early Childhood Development (ECD) in the area.
The Dindidi ECD Centre at Chikwina is one of the very few preschools that operate in Nkhata Bay North currently. The centre was established by community members as an alternative to expensive private preschools. Before its establishment, many parents were trying to enrol children below the age of 6 in primary schools which is against government policy.
One of Shupikile’s kids is now attending the Dindidi ECD Centre in Mkhoza village, Chikwina. This will better prepare them for primary school and help towards reducing rates of dropouts.
“Thank you for working with us in improving children’s education here at Chikwina.”
Temwa’s new ECD project will support preschools like the Dindidi ECD Centre to enable more children to access a quality preschool education. The project will help resource and organise already existing preschools, while establishing new preschools in areas where there is community demand to support families like Shupikiles.’
To see more about our education programme click here