Embracing Early Childhood Development using mobile tricycle innovation in Terego District, Uganda
Through collaborative efforts, Uriama Sub County became a beneficiary of the UNICEF-FCA funded project aimed at expanding access to quality Early Childhood Development.
Terego District, nestled in the West Nile sub region of northern Uganda, is home to Uriama Sub County, a community that has recently seen remarkable progress in Early Childhood Development (ECD) interventions thanks to an innovative initiative supported by partners like Finn-Church Aid (FCA) and the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF).
Spearheaded by the dedicated leadership of Mr. Okot Erema Vincent, the LC III Chairperson, Uriama Sub County has witnessed a transformative journey in providing quality learning experiences and nurturing environments for its youngest residents.
Carved out of Bilaefe Sub County in 2001, Uriama Sub County faced significant challenges, particularly regarding ECD access. The sub-county had some hard-to-reach communities and young children often had to travel long distances to access ECD centers or remained at home without educational opportunities. Recognizing the critical importance of early childhood education, Mr. Vincent tirelessly advocated for support from various partners to bridge this gap.
Through collaborative efforts, Uriama Sub County became a beneficiary of the UNICEF-FCA funded project aimed at expanding access to quality ECD. This was done through a mobile ECD intervention, an innovation of UNICEF and FCA developed with funding from Education Cannot Wait. Children are reached with informal play-based learning sessions in newly established home learning centers that target children in hard-to-reach areas. The learning and Early Childhood Development domains supported by this innovative intervention include academic (pre-literacy/pre-numeracy), socio emotional and fine and gross motor skill development using a play-based learning approach. This intervention also engages community members including parents and primary caregivers of young children.
The introduction of the innovative mobile ECD tricycle brought excitement and hope to Uriama Sub County. Children eagerly engaged with learning materials, while parents and community members actively supported the initiative. Centre Management Committees were formed, at each of the home learning centers, comprising dedicated volunteers and parents, who play pivotal roles in ensuring the success and sustainability of the program. This initiative not only addressed the lack of ECD infrastructure but also ensured that education reached even the most remote corners of the sub-county.
Parents who enrolled their children in home learning centres have expressed their happiness and gratitude to FCA and UNICEF because they have seen good improvements and positive changes among their children. One of the parents who was interviewed by FCA M&E specialist had this to say.
“Before the Mobile ECD was introduced in our village, my son used to stay at home because there was no ECD centre or home learning centre for our children to go and study at in our village, but one home centre was created by community leaders and FCA where my child goes attend lessons. she has learnt to sound letters, read numbers, speaking some words in English above all singing songs like "head and shoulders knees and toys”, narrates Bacia Kevin’s father who studies at Yoro home learning centre that has been upgraded to ECD centre attached to Lini Primary School
The success of the program has attracted the attention of stakeholders, including local and district leaders, partners, and government officials. The mobile ECD innovation was officially launched on 22nd February 2024 in Terego District with officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports as well as senior UNICEF staff present.
As the program continues to thrive, Mr. Erema and the community of Uriama Sub County remains committed to their vision of becoming a beacon of ECD excellence in Terego District. Their dedication, coupled with unwavering support from partners like UNICEF and FCA, ensures a brighter future for generations to come.
Through collective efforts, what once seemed like insurmountable challenges have been addressed paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable education system in rural Uganda. The LCIII Chairperson Uriama, Mr. Erema, pledged to continue engaging parenting to support all the home learning centers to transform into ECD centers such that children do not move long distances to reach the nearest ECD center. He thanked FCA for involving the lower local governments right from the beginning of the program and he is confident that the centers will continue even when the project ends. “We want to be an exemplary sub -county in Terego district to show the special support we have received from UNICEF and FCA by creating more ECD centers on our own,” Mr Okot said.
