Urban Child Care (Phase II)

Project Duration	January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015
Funding organization	Aga Khan Foundation & Porticus Foundation,
Project Goal	Development of an improved model for providing sustainable ECD services for children aged 2-6 of low paid working women in Dhaka.
Project Purpose	– Improved developmental outcomes for children aged 2-6 of low paid working women in Dhaka – Increased access to child care services for low paid working women in Dhaka
Project Output	40 community based child care centers established 20 learning centers established for school readiness of children between 4-6 years availing the child care services 800 eligible children enrolled in the child care centers 60 new ECD professionals trained in the communities in and around Dhaka 1200 parents trained on child development issues
Project working areas	Mirpur, Mohammedpur, Kamrangir Char, Gazipur, Ashulia
Beneficiary/Stakeholder	Direct :Children, Parents; especially low paid working women, Indirect: Caregivers and Teachers, Family members of enrolled children, communities, working places of the mothers
Short description	UCCP is a one year pilot project staring 1 January 2015, and end in 31 December 2015. The project involves the following 3 components: 1. Community Based Child Care Centers: These centers are situated in the locality where low paid working women reside. Each center has one locally recruited caregiver, who looks after 20 children of 2-6 years, for 7.30 am to 5.30 pm. She is engaged in the early stimulation, hygiene practices and center management activities with the children throughout the day, and is duly supervised by Phulki officials. 2. Learning Centers: These centers are situated adjacent to the 2 community based child care centers. Each center has one locally recruited teacher, who ensures the school readiness of children of 4-6 years of age for 3 hours every day starting at 9am. Each 2 child care center and 1 learning center makes a cluster, which proves the holistic early childhood development support for the eligible aged children. 3. Early Childhood development Training for Caregivers, teachers and parents: Training is the most important part of this project. The caregivers and teachers would receive basic training for 8 days, and 2 days refresher in every 3 months. The curriculum and training module is developed by Phulki following the Early Learning Development Standard (ELDS) of the Government of Bangladesh. The training for parents also addresses the ELDS though 12 sessions per year, for 1 hour in every month. Center specific issues are also addressed in these sessions. All these are the core components of this project. The result based management approach is followed to ensure the quality of the centers and supportive supervision is adopted as the core supervision strategy for this project.
Major Achievements	Target of 20 childcare clusters (in which 40 Day care center and 20 learning centers) Mothers are aware of ECD, childs health care, nutrition, hygiene, attitude, behavior, discipline etc. Through regular mothers meetings. Basic ECD Training on Caregiver /Teacher/ supervisor has done. CMC are very happy to have the opportunity to be engaged with this work. Two to four rounds of meetings held since the establishment of DCCs. Major issues/agenda were discuss and solve the problems, how to do better, suggest how to ensure better care for children. Besides the meeting they provide administrative support, sometimes visit centre, and enquire about the activities of the Caregivers.