Nurturing Childhood Sowing Change Mobile Creches Case Study from India

Presentation Outline Situation of the Young Child The migrant child – going nowhere - Impact of Migration on Children Mobile Creches’ Response - Daycare centre at construction sites - Delivery model - Programme, Impact, cost - Features responsible for ensuring and sustaining quality Growing up in Delhi’s Slums Mobile Creches response for children in urban settlements - Strategies adopted for settled populations - Impact and achievements - Features responsible for success

Situation of the Young Child 160 million children under 6yrs - 60 million living in poverty 47% children are malnourished 61% children not fully immunized 80% children born with low birth weight 38% children 3-6yrs attend pre-school 76% children complete primary school

The Unmet Need: ECCD 60 million children in need of ECCD services The ‘What’: maternal health, new born health; maternity support; breastfeeding; immunization; early stimulation; growth monitoring; appropriate and adequate nutrition; pre-school The ‘Why’: Citizenship; Science; Equity; Economic rationale

Mobile Creches Response

MC Strategic Thrust affected by migration For Young Child in settled urban communities I. Service Delivery - Daycare Centres at Construction Sites - service delivery models; facilitation models II. Community Facilitation - Ensuring childcare at Urban Settlements - awareness and demand creation models ↓ ↓ ↓ Learnings feed into Networking with NGOs and other campaigns to strengthen movement - demand for quality services for young child Training in Childcare – build capacities for early childcare and good practices for other NGOs Advocacy with the Government – improved policies and programmes for migrant and young children

The Migrant Child - going nowhere

Impact of migration on the child Average duration of stay on a site - 4 months 70% malnutrition Incomplete immunization No response or outreach from state services Young child (under 3 yrs) - breast feeding impossible, delayed weaning, denied immunization – increased malnutrition, morbidity and even mortality Preschool child (3-6 yrs) - supplementary nutrition and health compromised, lack of care and learning opportunities Older child (6 yrs and above) - interrupts schooling, dropouts, child labour, no peer support, likely early marriage

Regular health checkups Immunization Vitamin A, Iron supplementati on Deworming One-to-one interaction, Mothers’ meeting, Street plays, media, etc. Building local leadership Age Appropriate needs of children Play way, child- centred approach Readiness skills Mainstreaming Tutorial support 3 times hot cooked wholesome balanced nutritious meal Growth monitoring Special diet for the malnourished Nutrition Educatio n Health Community Communication I. MC Daycare Centres at Construction Sites Integrated Program

Impact of Day Care Program (through centres) Safety, security and protection for 1200 children Sibling Care Relief children Nutritional Grade Improvement – 67% Age Appropriate Immunization – 94% Learning Levels : improved performance on gross motor development, confidence levels, cognition (91%) Mainstreaming older children – 20-30% Linkage with Government Health Services – 90%

Outcomes Children at MC (More than 200 days): Improved performance on parameters of language (87%), cognition(91%), creativity and physical development (77%). Total Score: 85% in comparison to 67% for those spending days Learning Capacities Impact of Educational interventions (Balwadi Evaluation Study): Nutritional Status: improved due to supplementary nutrition program – 500cal/20gm protein/day (Children at centre for six months or more – 73% showed improvement)

Organization Features - Three Critical Pillars 1.Programme Design – Professional inputs, periodic evaluations and reviews, procedures, guidelines 2. Supporting Systems (MIS, Procedures, guidelines and Admin support) 3. HR Systems

Fundamental Principles guiding Programme Design for all components Focus on all the age groups – conception - 12yrs Holistic approach – focusing on all domains of development Minimal facilities and low cost materials Accessibility – timings, location Flexibility – Responds to specific needs Inclusive – children with different abilities The Rights approach Stake holders Participation– children, parents, contractors Respect for community culture, tradition and ethos Community awareness and participation- sustaining impact - building community leadership (Saathi Samooh) - parent’s meetings, street plays, media, campaigns, community events Accessing government facilities – mainstreaming, immunization

Supporting Systems 1.Operational guidelines documented 2.Control systems for follow up and supervision 3.Structured Supervision & Monitoring systems 4.Reporting structure including MIS for feedback to MC senior management 5.Oversight by Governing Board

HR Systems Organizational structure Clarity on roles and job responsibilities Building and strengthening human resource systems - a positive work culture fostering shared learning promoting staff motivation through continued professional growth and joint problem-solving Regular performance management system with recognition, acknowledgement, promotional and incentive systems

How much does it cost to provide quality ECCD Approx. Rs.1000/- per month / child Operational costs 80% Supervisory, support, monitoring, capacity building 20%

Growing Up in Delhi’s Slums Total under 6 population lac (census 2001) 12 lac under 6 children (64%) live in Urban Poor Settlements (DES ) Children Health Status 75%children under 3 suffer from diarrheoa and 63% have anaemia

MC’s Response for settled populations Facilitation Awareness on importance of 0-6 yrs and implication of neglect Building community groups Family based interventions for change in child care practices Demonstration model of Community based child care services with training and capacity building support Linkages with government services and schemes – health

Impact of Urban Interventions Reaching approximately 4800 children under 6 72% - Improvement in nutrition grade 80% - Birth registration 92% - Immunization Linkage to ICDS 1400 children

Reached out to 7,50,000 children Multiple models in partnership with communities and Builders/contractors 8 community groups - 4 are registered with young child issues in their bye- laws 80 anganwadis opened through demand generation from community Trained 6,500 Childcare workers National Advocacy – Lobbied for and provided inputs for better Laws, Policies, Programmes and Schemes MC’s Achievements

Let us work together to give back a happy childhood to all children…