ICHEC-2011 Amoor team visited the Creche attached with SEVAI School of Mettumarudur.

ICHEC-2011 Amoor members with a child in SEVAI Creche

The ICHEC-2011, Sevai-Amoor team, Vruyns Dorian, Garcia Marian Laura, Helfgott Philippe, Stoquart Celine, Warden Emily, De Canniere Fanny, Gerkbard Dan, Indejeu Madeleine and Wallemacq Richardo of SEVAI Amoor also visited the Village School run by SEVAI in Mettumarudur where the Day care centre is run in the same premises visited the day care centre and one of the team members shared “Learning Stories are documents that are used by Care takers and educators in childcare centre of Mettumarudur. They use a story- telling format instead of a traditional ‘observation’ report to document the different ways that young children learn, and capture the moment in greater detail and provide parents with a greater insight into the events that occur in their child’s time in childcare, they include: Story of the child’s progress, Pictures of the experiences, The child’s strengths, interests and needs, Space for parent feedback.” The first few years of a child's life are important to form a basis for good education, morality, Self discipline and social integration. Consistency of approach, skills and qualifications of Care takers have been seen during our visit to improve the chances of a child reaching his or her full potential”

The rural children day care project of SEVAI run in Mettumarudur provides a child care facility to all children in the age group of 6 months to 3 yrs at village level by giving supplementary nutritional food plus overall development. With the growing need to supplement household income, more and more women are entering the livelihood market. With the breaking up of joint family system and the increasing number of nuclear families, working women need support in terms of quality, substitute care for their young children while they are at work. Creche and Day Care Services are not only required by working mothers but also women belonging to poor families, who require support and relief for childcare as they struggle to cope with burden of activities, within and outside the home. Both parents of many young infants have to work all day to sustain their livelihood leaving no one to attend to the nutritional needs of young infants. The child care unit is run by two care takers of SEVAI Mettumarudur School. Supplementary nutritional food plus overall development inputs would be provided. The infants who attend the Day care facility are being provided with nutritious food and development toys, thus making them stronger individuals. There has also been an increase in the school attendance of the siblings of these infants who earlier had to stay home to look after their younger sibling. This program has provided employment to the local women who are paid village child care workers. The mothers of the infants also have a peace of mind that their young infants are being cared for while they are attending their work. Effective day care for young children has been run at an essential cost effective investment by SEVAI as it provides support to both the mothers and young children. It is also a protection measure as it addresses issues such as child labour, school drop outs, outreach for medical and health programme, female literacy etc.The children day care centre of Mettu Marudur has a minimum space of 8 sq. ft. per child to ensure that they can play, rest, and learn without any hindrance. Essential play material and teaching and learning material are made available to meet the needs of preschool children. Day care Workers ensures linkages with the local Primary Health Centre. They also have a tie up with the nearby Anganwadi centres and its workers for health care inputs like immunization, polio drops and basic health monitoring. The Day care Creche centre in Mettu Marudur was started in 2006 and provides assistance to ensure sleeping facilities, healthcare, supplementary nutrition, immunisation, etc. The day care centre for 25 infants for is run for eight from 9:00 a m to 5:00 p m. -Govin