The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in partnership with ChildFund Korea (CFK), and with the support of Children Believe (CB), and AG CARE Ghana, has commissioned 5 Early Childhood Education Centers, urinary and KVIP toilets for Wungu, Wulugu, Kurugu, Jawani and Naamenboku.
These facilities are equipped with age-appropriate furniture, desks for teachers, teaching and learning materials, and outdoor play equipment at an estimated cost of 3.8 million Ghana Cedis.
This intervention has provided conducive learning environments for 551 pupils from the five (5) beneficiary communities.
KOICA and its partners are executing a project to strengthen Early Childhood Education in both the East and West Mamprusi Municipalities of the North East Region of Ghana.
The project dubbed “Quality and Inclusive Early Childhood Education Services for All Children (QAIECE)” is a three-year project funded by KOICA which commenced in 2022 and ends in 2024.
The QAIECE project covers 30 communities in both the West and East Mamprusi Municipalities.
The project aims to improve quality Early Childhood Education opportunities for 4-5-year-old children in the North East Region by improving the quality of education in kindergartens in the project area, increasing the involvement of parents and communities in kindergarten education, strengthening the government’s accountability in kindergarten education.
KOICA and its partners fully support SDG 4, which aims to ensure that, “all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education”.
The Country Director of KOICA, Donghyun Lee, commended the government for the various child rights policies, and indicated that the Korean government will continue to support Ghana’s education initiatives.
“The government has done well for the various child rights policies, and I promise the Korean government’s will continue to support the country’s educational initiatives.”
The North East Regional Minister, Yidana Zakaria, who commissioned the facilities, commended the Korean Government for the support and called for the revamping of some ECD centers in the Region.
“I want to commend the Korean government for this wonderful support. It has come at the most appropriate stage in our country. I will urge that other ECD centers across the region are revamped so as for us to benefit from them,”
The Team Manager for Child Fund Korea, Minji Ki, appealed to the communities to consolidate the gains by educating more children in the community.
The Country Director of Children Believe, Esenam Kavi De-Souza, urged parents in the respective communities to send their children to school at the right age.
“Education is very important, and I want to urge parents to send their children to school at right ages so that they could reap the benefits.”
She further reiterated the need for the respective community stakeholders to ensure that the infrastructures are properly maintained, so that many other children can benefit from them.
The Executive Director of AG Care Ghana, Ernest Asigri, urged the beneficiary communities to own the various initiatives established in the community.
“I want to urge community members to see the project as though they have used their resources to construct it. I urged you people to own it and maintain it when necessary.”
He noted that the facilities being handed over, brings to a total of nine (9) Early Childhood Education centers built in the North East Region over the past one (1) year. And thus, the recipient communities must count themselves fortunate to be beneficiaries of such investments.
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) provided funding for the project. Under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, KOICA was founded as a governmental body dedicated to offering grant aid programs (to partner countries).
Currently, KOICA executes grant aid in 46 partner nations throughout the world to promote global prosperity and peace via inclusive, mutual development cooperation that leaves no one behind.
Children Believe and ChildFund Korea are both members of the ChildFund Alliance.
ChildFund Alliance is a global network of 11 child-focused development and humanitarian organizations serving approximately 23 million children and families in 70 countries.
They work to end child abuse and exploitation, provide expertise in emergencies and disasters, and collaborate with children, families, and communities to effect long-term change.
Their dedication, resources, and expertise are a potent force in changing children’s lives.
AG CARE GHANA, the local implementing partner, collaborates with like-minded partners to empower citizens by means of capacity building, dissemination of resources, and providing assistance to communities and government entities.
