The National Event for Project Sharing, Showcasing Success, and Lesson Learning of Gender Transformative Early Childhood Development (GeTECD) Project of Plan International Bangladesh was held at Hotel Crown Plaza.
This program aims to ensure that young girls and boys equally receive the care and support they need to thrive, free from limiting gender norms. The objectives of the event was to advocate for donuor and govt. stakeholders to project highlight achievements, lessons, and success stories from the GeTECD project, explain the rationale of project exit and fulfilling the project’s public accountability, and showcase the project’s developed materials, BCC and IEC materials to the stakeholder and donor, read a press release on Saturday.
Honorable Chief Guest, Shah Rezwan Hayat, director general of the Directorate of Primary Education mentioned in his speech that, the Gender Transformative Early Childhood Development initiative of Plan International Bangladesh is supporting the Government of Bangladesh immensely. Initiatives like this help the Government to ensure quality education and the Directorate of Primary Education will always support Plan International Bangladesh in this regard”.
Special guests were Md Shah Alam, managing director of Sesame Workshop, Md Delwar Hossain, executive director of SAPBD, Abu Taher, executive director, Dhaka, Chairperson for the event, Afroz Mahal, Director Programme Management & Implementation, Plan International Bangladesh, SHUROVI and distinguished guests from different NGO, INGO, donour organisation, participants of GeTECD project and staff of Plan International Bangladesh were present in the event.
Khurshid Ara, manager of the project welcomed the guests and Neelima Yasmeen, head of Coastal Region and National Programme, Plan International Bangladesh provided an insightful presentation at the event.
Starting in 2019, the project worked in areas such as Barguna Sadar Upazila and in 7 wards in Dhaka South City Corporation. The total reach of the project is 20,872 among which Male: 6,634, Female 8,317, Children: 5,921.
The project left a remarkable significance in developing Gender inclusive pedagogy manuals, different IEC materials, social media shows, alternative remedial learning support, Shishu Bikash Kendra, Sisimpur character live show, and the formation of diversified groups in the community such as parenting sessions, grandparents’ group, father’s café, religious Leaders group. Gender-transformative parenting has been identified as the priority for delivering on this ambition, including promoting male engagement in parenting and early childhood development.
Neelima Yasmeen, head of Coastal Region and National Programme, pointed out in her presentation that 93.09 perc ent of influential community leaders promote positive changes in key behaviors and practices for children’s healthy growth and development 88.12 per cent of men feel supported and encouraged by family members and the community to engage in care work, childrearing, and maternal health and 93.09 per cent of influential community leaders support positive changes in key behaviors and practices for children’s healthy growth and development.
Throughout the discussion, there were findings that children who graduated from SBK are much more competent than other learners of pre-primary school. When parents are aware of gender-responsive child-rearing and caring eventually they provide a non-discriminatory environment to their children.
