A New Dawn for Nkhata Bay and Chitipa
To promote quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Malawi, the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia ECD department and World Vision International have initiated a two-year project named Ready For School (R.F.S). This project is currently underway in the Nkhata Bay district, specifically in the Sanga and Mwendanjira Area Programs. Launched in October of this year, the project is scheduled to conclude in September 2025, covering T/A Mankhambira in Nkhata Bay and T/A Mwenewenya in Chitipa District.
The primary objective of the project is to facilitate the smooth transition of children from Community-Based Child Care Centers (CBCCs) to Primary Schools by employing modern technology, specifically the Early Learning Kiosk (ELK). Additionally, the project aims to build the capacity of caregivers in both area programs, empowering them to deliver high-quality ECD education and ultimately support child stimulation. Simultaneously, efforts are directed toward enhancing nutrition services in the CBCCs, advocating for daily nutritious meals for the children.
The CCAP Synod of Livingstonia and World Vision International, through this project, seek to promote the concept of One Village One CBCC (OVOC) for all the communities involved. This entails improving infrastructure development, ensuring the presence of safe and child-friendly structures for each CBCC.
Rev. Edward Kamthunzi, the Executive Director of the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia ECD Department, expressed the church’s commitment to contributing to the government’s endeavors in enhancing the quality of ECD services in Malawi. The Ready for School Project, according to him, plays a crucial role in targeting various stakeholders, including parents, caregivers, community governance structures, such as SMSs, CMCs, and traditional leaders. The belief is that, by the project’s conclusion, positive transformations will be evident in the communities of T/A Mankhambira in Nkhata Bay and T/A Mwenewenya in Chitipa.
Funding for the Ready for School project, amounting to 200,000 USD, is provided by World Vision Korea. The announcement of this exciting news took place during a recently concluded three-day startup meeting attended by both organizations and government officials from the two districts.
