Child Care Projects Make a Positive Impact, One Goal At a Time

Child Care Projects Make a Positive Impact, One Goal At a Time
Author

Projects Abroad

Release Date

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Share

TORONTO – September 28, 2016 – International Literacy Day celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this month, and the steps taken to improve literacy levels worldwide were highlighted across multiple platforms. Literacy is the foundation for life-long learning, and innovative solutions are encouraged to boost reading and writing abilities.

Projects Abroad has always supported long-term development goals, and literacy is a core focus. ThroughCare Projects, the organization's aim is to provide individualized care and educational support to children who lack mental stimulation. Volunteers are placed where there is a need for extra support, and they play an instrumental role in children's physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. "This is an area where every volunteer is able to contribute, and it has been encouraging to see the difference that our volunteers are able to make," says Jenny Puyo, Program Developer for Projects Abroad. "Our hope is that in the long run, children will explore their natural curiosity and creativity while developing the vital skills they will need in the future."

Projects Abroad continuously strives to develop and achieve results that benefit both the children they work with and the volunteers who contribute to the programs. Each Care Project has different needs, therefore individualized Care Management Plans have been implemented in the countries where these projects are based. These plans work towards achieving select long-term goals and focus on the actions needed to achieve them. The care facilities and partners that Projects Abroad works with on Care Projects can choose from the below goals, and focus their project activities around them:

  1. Increase literacy

  2. Increase numeracy

  3. Improve English

  4. Promote early childhood development

  5. Improve hygiene levels of the children

  6. Raise awareness of healthy living, the environment, and family planning

  7. Increase emotional support and care to children

  8. Improve the level of stimulation to each child

  9. Improve the quality of life for those living with disabilities

These plans define a clear purpose for each Care Project, and allow Projects Abroad to monitor the impact volunteers have had on the host community. The management plans have been a huge success in setting standards for literacy with a global improvement of 8.41% since the beginning of 2016. Cambodia (15.63%),Nepal (29.99%), Samoa (10.94%) and Senegal (20.31%) are among the destinations that have seen a significant increase in literacy levels. "We are delighted with the progress that has been made so far with our literacy efforts," says Puyo. "Feedback from our partners have been very positive, and exceptional progress has already been made in assessing key areas of need. Thanks to the data being gathered, we are able to prioritize under-resourced placements and offer targeted support."

The management plans also provide a sense of structure and direction to those working on a Care Project. It shows volunteers that their efforts in-country have a tangible impact, and knowing they are contributing to the bigger picture gives them a greater sense of purpose.

To learn more about volunteering with Projects Abroad on a Care Project, please visit www.projects-abroad.ca/volunteer-projects/care.


Latest Stories