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The main project goal was to build a central community facility
where children in the region could come in safety to play,
learn, receive nutrition, and get basic healthcare. A school
feeding program provides each child with 100% of their nutritional
needs every day.
Between 150 and 200 children have been attending the community
childcare program. Up until now, it has operated in the open
air, and in poorly-constructed huts. Weather is a significant
problem, particularly in the rainy season, between December
and March.
In addition, there are initiatives to
support the entire community such as drilling a well and buying
agricultural supplies to grow crops. The community identified
a plot for community farming. We provided funds for tools,
seed and fertilizer so that planting could occur in December
at the start of the rainy season. The seeds germinate in the
wet conditions and crops are harvested in April. The harvest
augments the school feeding program.
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| The Magalasi Daycare
Today |
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Construction of New Daycare |
In 2006, Saanich employees and the Saanich community raised
over $40,000 to accomplish the following:
- Construct
a community childcare centre
- Drill a borehole (well)
to provide fresh water to the community
- Provide
a quality early childhood program for pre-school age children
- Operate
a school feeding program
- Begin a community agricultural
program
- Train workers and volunteers in early
childhood programming
- Pay a living wage to childcare
workers
- Provide
an opportunity for Chancellor College students to have
hands-on experience in early childhood care and practices.
It is anticipated that the construction of the Centre will
be complete by March 2007. The centre will have a school,
kitchen block and latrines.
In January 2007, Saanich employees
launched their second annual Zomba KIDZ campaign and raised
an additional $11,000. The funds will pay for supplies and
equipment for the community centre and continue to support
the school feeding program, community care workers, and agricultural
activities. In the years upcoming, it is hoped that more economic
development activities for the community can eventually be
undertaken that will lift it out of the crushing poverty that
exists today.
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