The Roving Caregivers Programme, (RCP), an early childhood development initiative, continues to touch the lives of children of pre-school age in communities across Dominica.
Since its inception, more than 2,200 children, 2,000 plus parents, 57 caregivers and over 3,000 community members have participated in the programme.
The RCP which has been established in several communities across the country was formally launched in the village of Warner on Wednesday with fourteen children registered and twenty-eight parents participating.
Project Manager of the RCP, Austelle Lockhart, in addressing the launching ceremony spoke of the benefits of the RCP thus far.
“There have been several evaluations and studies conducted on the programme, indicating in summary that children who have benefitted from the RCP reach their developmental potentials significantly better than those of matched backgrounds and the gains realized are significant enough to warrant the intervention continuing,” he said.
A 2009 evaluation of the RCP further indicated that the program has helped develop the children’s level of self confidence and esteem and has shown that children who have engaged in early stimulation demonstrate enhanced cognitive development and socialization skills and are better prepared for entry into preschool.
The RCP project manager told Wednesday’s launch of the programme that children are not the only ones benefitting from this program.
“The training has helped parents to understand their children, how to communicate and interact with them and their parenting skills enhanced. Parents understand the need to spend quality time with their children,” Lockhart explained.
He added that another benefit is that “developmental problems in children may be detected early and addressed”.
In 2010, the National Bank of Dominica made available over three hundred thousand dollars for the expansion of the RCP in ten new communities within a three year period.
At present the RCP is present in 10 new communities bringing the total number of communities to 23.
The new communities include Marigot, Concord, Penville, St. Joseph, Gutter Community, Silver Lake, Tarish Pit, Yam Piece, Grand Fond and now Warner.
The RCP will soon be expanded into the 11th community with the support of the East Dominica Children’s Federation, an affiliate of ChildFund Caribbean.
Good programme…most parents need all the guidance and education they can get to raise their children.
East Dominica Children’s Federation, an affiliate of Child Fund Caribbean. Are those the only sponsors of this great program, thought the Government was on board.
thats nice, congrates warner.