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The work in Tanzania
started in July 2004 as part of collaboration of the University
of Bergen and the University of Dar es Salaam on a psychosocial
project in Moshi, Kilimanjaro region.
The project is targeting
caregivers of orphans, mainly due to the HIV/Aids-crisis. The local
partner is Kiwakkuki, a women’s organisation working with
HIV/AIDS related matters. Part of their work is an orphan program.
A recent research study
tried to identify the children’s needs and a result of that
research, Kiwakukki decided to implement the ICDP program in the
region in order to strengthen the caregiver’s ability to fulfil
the children’s psychosocial and developmental needs.
The training of 19 women
and 1 man started in July, and the whole group was accredited as
ICDP facilitators in February 2005. The training also included the
specific challenges related to caring for children suffering from
trauma and loss. In November 2005 there was a follow-up of the group
who had all implemented the program with groups of caregivers. According
to their reports there had been great changes in attitudes and behaviour
in caregivers who benefited from the ICDP programme.
In October
2006 follow up training was given to 21 facilitators in a week long
workshop. After the workshop
participants carried out their practical work with caregivers.
During 2007
the ICDP trained facilitators and caregivers absorbed the ideas of
positive interaction with great speed, enthusiasm and joy and the
local good caring practices have been revived and adapted to current
challenges.
In 2008 a
workshop was held in Moshi attended by thirteen candidate trainers.
ICDP Trainer Diplomas were issued to 3 persons so far that completed
their training: Luililiaeli Mfangavo, Egla Matechi and Vernynice
Monyo. Abandonment of corporal punishment of children has been one
the most frequently reported outcomes of participation in the ICDP
projects. The community leaders are asking for ICDP to expand as
they see positive changes in their community.
Year 2009:
A group of 21
persons are now ICDP facilitators and 13 are trainers able to form new
groups of facilitators. According to the survey conducted with
children and caregivers, including teachers, about the effects of the
intervention, caregivers learned to share experiences with one
another, to speak and to “open up”. The ICDP training increased the
participants’ demonstrations of love and their use of praise with the
children. They learned that using a stick is not as good as hugging,
talking and praising, that giving love enables children to accept
discipline and behave better. They also learned that including
children in planning makes them more eager to participate.
Year 2010:
Training continued and there are now 65 facilitators and 12
trainers in the Kilimanjaro region, and a new group
of 28 facilitators have started their process of ICDP training - see
photos above from the workshops.
The Tanzanian government is currently developing an Early Childhood
Development policy, in cooperation with UNICEF, the Ministry of
Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Welfare,
the Ministry of Community Development, as well as some other local
organizations - the plan is to implement this new ECD strategy in a
pilot project in 6-8 districts of Tanzania. Interest has been
expressed to include the ICDP programme in this pilot.
Local ICDP trainers Verynice Monyo and Lui Mfangavo organized network
meetings, which were conducted in four districts: Moshi municipal,
Moshi rural west, Moshi rural east and Mwanga. The aim was to link the
new group of facilitators who are just starting their training with
the more experienced group. In all 4 districts the experienced
facilitators shared about their achievements and challenges in using
the ICDP programme, and in addition they talked about the positive
impact of the programme in their personal lives. Their stories
illustrate how as result of ICDP there are improvements in caregivers’
attitudes and behaviour towards their children and also positive
changes in children’s behaviour.
Click to the following link to read some of these comments by
caregivers and ICDP trained facilitators:
http://www.icdp.info/Tanzaniastoriesbyfacilitatorsandcaregivers.pdf
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