OAS contributes to Roving Caregivers Programme

The Organization of American States (OAS) handed over a quantity of items to the Roving Caregivers Programme (RCP) last Friday, May 21.{{more}}

The items, which include toys, books, games, children’s furniture, and craft valued at $27,408, will be used in the RCP’s learning stimulation programme.

The programme targets young children from birth to age three who do not have access to early childhood education, particularly those who reside in difficult or high risk environments.

The RCP’s one hour sessions typically deal with issues of discipline, nutrition and self esteem among the nearly 200 children currently under the programme.

But it also caters to the mothers of these children and it is expected that the craft items purchased will aid in this aspect of the training, which provides these parents with income generating skills.

OAS Funding began in June 2009 and continues up to June 2011 and supports the objectives of the RCP to establish a group of trained Roving Caregivers in the communities of Sandy Bay, Barrouallie, Colonaire, Chester Cottage and Diamond.

Judith Hull-Ballah, RCP Coordinator, in speaking of the successes of the project since its inception here in 2005, mentioned some of the future plans of the project.

These include the setting up of a training outreach programme, and beginning in June the implementation of the Early Childhood Health Outreach Programme (ECHO) which is a new initiative being implemented by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with support from UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).(DD)