A well-attended ceremony was today held at the Mohamed Aw Ali Dayib primary school in Hargeisa for the launch Early Child Development (ECD)nd HYDA programs meant to improve young children’s capacity to develop and learn.
The new program is being funded by the UK based Pharo foundation and jointly implemented by the Horn Youth Development Association (HYDA) and Somaliland Ministry of Education and Higher learning.
Hon Abdullahi Ibrahim Habane (Abdullahi Dheere), Minister of Education and Higher learning speaking during the launching ceremony of the new program said, “I am happy to see this program has finally bearing fruits, The program is meant to improve he provision and accessibility of cultural and developmentally appropriate early childhood education in the Republic of Somaliland.
Mr. Khalid Haji Aden Abdi , the executive director of HYDA gave an in-depth on the NGOS work, “Our organization works on community development with a specific target on the youth , women and children with aims to empower, and provide opportunities for the youth to develop their own initiatives as well as take part in the community development.
Mr. Khalid Haji Aden Abdi , the executive director of HYDA speaking during the launching ceremony said, “The project will include the establishment of teachers training department whereby teacher will be trained, as well as the curriculum in which they will use in their work in addition to a proposed Grade 14 School which will be constructed, the teachers will be chosen from 7 School in Hargeisa. The aim of the project is to make public schools a place suitable for early child growth”.
Mr. Khalid continued by stating “We (HYDA) and the Ministry of Education shall within the duration of one year present our proposals to our partner organization Pharo Foundation in order to convince them of the overall importance and benefits to the country, in fact this will enable children staying at home to attend school , ECD interventions include educating and supporting low income parents, delivering services to children, developing capacities of caregivers by using mass communications to enhance parents and caregiver’s knowledge and practices.
Lastly, Mr. Khalid Abdi Aden on behalf of HYDA thanked the Ministry of Education and PHARO FOUNDATION for their support.
Mr Mohamed Yusuf , PHARO FOUNDATION country representative speaking during the occasion said, “ First and foremost I , would like to thank HYDA or their efforts in initiating the idea of Early Child Development (ECD) programs which is something we need nowadays, we ‘re all aware everything is built from the foundation so the ultimate goal of Early Child Development (ECD) programs is to improve young children’s capacity to develop and learn and hence the need to develop the early stages of a child, so every parent should be informed on this fact.