Case Stories

School Readiness Initiative Malawi (SRI), is being implemented by CCAP Synod of Livingstonia (SOLINIA) Early Childhood Development Department in Mzimba district in the northern region, with funding from Roger Federer Foundation (RFF) from July 2020 until June 2020. School Readiness initiative is aimed at supporting “children to be ready for schools and schools ready for children”. The project is targeting a minimum of 6,000 vulnerable children in 75 CBCCs and 49 primary schools in four impact areas namely; T/A Mtwalo, Kampingo Sibande, Mpherembe and Jalavikuwa.
Malivenji Community based childcare center (CBCC) which is in the group village headman Malivenji, T/A kampingo sibande in Mzimba north is one of the beneficiaries of the project. Established in 1997 the CBCC feeds into a primary school which is in a walking distance of approximately 10 minutes from it.
The enrolment for the past 5 years has been overwhelming with an average of 60 children per academic calendar, and 17% being transitioned to primary school. Despite boosting with high and stable enrolment the CBCC did not have the structure where the learners could sit and get quality education. Children have been learning in a borrowed structure which is in dilapidated state. Due to the state of the structure, the center was only operational in the dry season and closed in the rainy season. As a result, many parents were unwilling to send their children to the CBCC. The CBCC committee which claimed to be in place since the establishment of the center narrated that they did not had resources to build the structure.
In July 2020, an Area Development Committee meeting was conducted by the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia (SOLINIA). The main aim of the meetings was to brief the ADC members about the importance of ECD and the overview of the School readiness initiative. In September 2020, SOLINIA also conducted a CBCC management committee training briefing them about their roles and responsibilities in early child development (ECD).
Throughout both meetings, SOLINIA stressed on the importance of children’s access to conducive, child friendly learning environment. In both the meetings, representatives of the Malivenji community and CBCC were in attendance.
Soon after the orientation of ADC and the training of CBCC committee members, the group village headman Malivenji in conjunction with the CBCC committee members sensitized the community on the importance of ECD which includes the conducive learning environment for children. Then GVH further held 5 meetings with community members where they discussed ways of how to mobilize resources so that they build the CBCC, on which they agreed that each household should contribute 100 bricks which was used to construct the CBCC and the GVH provided land where the structure is standing.
After witnessing the commitment of the community towards the construction of the CBCC, SOLINIA saw it worthwhile to provide 32 iron sheets for the roofing of the CBCC. The Chief of Malivenji, CBCC Committee, Caregivers and the entire community are happy that they have received the iron sheets. “I am very happy with the development; I really appreciate Rodger Federer Foundation for funding the project through SOLINIA. Children in my area will be able to access quality education in a conducive CBCC structure” GVH Malivenji lamented.
Caregivers are also happy with this development. “this time we won’t be closing the schools since we have our own structure. We really thank SOLINIA for supporting us with iron sheets” Jane Bilima commented.
Besides constructing the center, the CBCC Committee and the community at large is doing a remarkable job in motivating the caregivers. The committee and the community at members work in the caregiver’s fields while they are busy teaching the children. In preparing learners to start standard 1 the committee has held two meetings with the primary school teachers to ensure a good collaboration between the CBCC and primary school for smooth transition. Teachers also help caregivers on how to use the tab.

In a nutshell, the coming in of the project has provided a significant influence towards the community. As such, the CBCC committee members plan to do more to improve the teaching, learning resources and environment of the CBCC. For instance, the committee plans to plaster the walls and floor, create and establish a natural playground, and build toilets for the CBCC. The Committee also plans to farm in the caregivers’ farms once a week so that the caregivers can focus on teaching the learners.