The right to a healthy start in life 1

2 The right to a healthy start in life

 ‘The Right to a
Healthy Start in Life’

I
n many African countries early childhood education is lacking
compared to the developed countries. It is estimated that an
overwhelming percentage of children in the developing world under
the age of five fail to reach their full cognitive developmental potential.

Children who fail to reach their full Plan’s vision is of a

developmental potential at such a young
age can suffer later on in life. world in which all children
In an attempt to mitigate this phenomenon
realize their full potential
Plan International, a global NGO focused in societies which respect
on child rights, has pioneered efforts
to improve Early Childhood Care and people’s rights and dignity
Development (ECCD) in the developing
world. Plan is an international child-
centred community development targeting the poorest and most excluded
organization without political, religious children, including girls, children with
or governmental affiliations. Plan’s vision disabilities, children affected by AIDS
and children affected by conflict and
is of a world in which all children realize
disasters among others.
their full potential in societies which
respect people’s rights and dignity.
In this edition of Photo book you will
be brought into close contact with Plan
The Regional East and Southern Africa
International and its key partners as they
(RESA) office based in Nairobi, Kenya
implement the program called ‘The Right
supports 12 countries in the region. All
to a Healthy Start in Life’ in Kenya and
these countries work directly and or
Mozambique through the Community-
through partners to implement a broad
Led Action for children (CLAC) to ensure
range of ECCD programs in a number of
that a good foundation for quality
contexts (urban; post conflict and rural)
education is achieved.

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4 The right to a healthy start in life
 Community Led Actions for Children (CLAC)
Plan’s Community-Led Action for Children (CLAC) model of ECCD is informed by the Four
Cornerstones approach, developed by the Consultative Group on Early Childhood and
Development, of which Plan is a member (refer below to the four cornerstones). Local civil
society organizations, community associations, and community volunteers are integral
actors in the model, which was designed to be community-led and self-sustaining.

The Four Cornerstones:

1) Parenting Education on holistic child development and well-being;

2) Early Learning Programs for one or two years before formal schooling;
3) Transitions to Primary schooling;
4) Partnerships and Policy Advocacy for integration, collaboration, and sustained
government buy-in/support.

Before 2009, Plan’s most common entry point and emphasis in ECCD was establishing
preschool centers for 3-6 year old children. The launch of the CLAC model has strengthened
and further structured this center-based child development work, and has enabled Plan to
steadily increase its focus and capacities in the other three “cornerstones.”

As designed, the CLAC approach also addresses causes of family and child vulnerability
and focuses on children’s overall well-being status in key areas of health; nutrition; cognitive
and psycho-social development; and protection. School readiness and transitions to
primary education are central aims as proxy measures for the child and his or her family
being healthy, stable, with basic needs met, ready to learn and thrive.

Acknowledgement
Plan Kenya and Mozambique acknowledges funding support (CLAC2) from Conrad N.
Hilton Foundation (CHNF) channeled through Plan international USA and Ministry for
Foreign Affairs of Finland (FinMFA) to expand, strengthen and enhance the CLAC program
in targeted communities so as to increase its sustainability and impact.

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6 The right to a healthy start in life
Mother taking
child to school

In Mashishi of Inhambane province in

Mozambique its usual to see parents
like this one taking their 3years old
children to one of the many Early
Childhood Care and Development
Center (ECCDs) founded by Plan
international.

According to UNESCO, The first eight

years of a child’s life are decisive for
human development.

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8 The right to a healthy start in life
 It is a fact that an overwhelming
percentage of children in Africa under
the age of five fail to reach their full
developmental potential at such a young
age due lack of proper upbringing and
starting education much later in life and
can suffer later-on in life.

Plan international is changing the course

by encouraging parents to take their
children to Early Childhood Care and
Development Center (ECCDs).

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10 The right to a healthy start in life
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12 The right to a healthy start in life
 Plan International and Key partners
implemented the program called
‘The Right to a Healthy Start in Life’
in Kenya and Mozambique through
the Community- Led Action for
children (CLAC) to ensure that a good
foundation for quality education is laid.

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14 The right to a healthy start in life
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16 The right to a healthy start in life
Promoting maternal, neonatal and
child health is a key component in the
Community- Led Action for children
CLAC model. A child’s survival from
age zero onwards depends on a
mother’s good health and wellbeing.

Plan International is working closely

with stakeholders in the ministry of
health and numerous community
health volunteers in a mother-to-
mother mentorship programme
targeting quality health for the mother
and the baby.

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18 The right to a healthy start in life
 Plan International is committed to improving access to
healthcare for children and their parents. THE RIGHT TO
A HEALTHY START IN LIFE’ programme is designed to
connect children, parents and communities to the highest
attainable standard of health care, thus ensuring positive,
lasting change in their lives.

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20 The right to a healthy start in life
A Child’s health and development
are linked to the mother’s survival,
nutrition and wellbeing - and depend
also on the family’s ability to implement
key practices to promote healthy
lives, prevent childhood illnesses that
continue to kill thousands such as
pneumonia, diarrhea, malnutrition and
malaria among others when access
essential health services lack.

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22 The right to a healthy start in life
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24 The right to a healthy start in life
In the past parents in a remote village
Seme in Kisumu County-Kenya thought
that school started at the primary level.
Most parents waited until their children
were seven or eight to send them to
school.

However, since Plan International began

implementing their early childhood care
and development (ECCD) programme
here, there has been a remarkable
shift in the community’s mind set, and
parents have embraced ECCD as an
integral part to the foundation of their
children’s future. The male involvement
in the programme is one of its kind.

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26 The right to a healthy start in life
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 The goal of the project is to help
parents embrace the idea that the
child’s early years, in this case 0-8
years is a key foundation to the start of
their life. It is during this time when their
brains undergo dramatic growth and
development.

At this time, children acquire the ability

to think, speak, learn and reason.
Ultimately, this period shapes the rest
of their childhood, adolescence and
adult life.

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 Through the sessions parents have
become aware that they to understand
and be sensitive to the development
needs of their children especially when
they are very young.

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 Plan International focuses on ensuring
parents are able to play a full and active
role in school governance. This results
in the improvement of the learning
environment for boys and girls both in
early childhood learning centers and
primary schools.

In addition, Plan’s programmes

increase the access to quality
education for marginalized children,
particularly those with disabilities.

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Plan International has partnered with
communities to construct classrooms,
train teachers and provide learning
materials, as well as conduct extensive
awareness on the importance of early
child hood education.

Teachers and community members are

also provided with training so they are
able to provide psychosocial support
and promote a healthy, violence-
free environment within families and
communities.

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The right to a healthy start in life 39
The CLAC Model has also brought
the parents together in Socio-
economic activities in Kenya and
Mozambique. They have learnt skills
on Entrepreneurship and have been
able to cater for their childrens needs
in better nutrition, education, clothing
and even built better houses. The table
banking is an effective way to invest
and take loans for businesses.

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Male involvement and education in leaving in harmony and
respect has seen care for children improve and they learning
environment peaceful.

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Plan International Kenya Country Office, Methodist Ministries Centre, Block C, P.O. Box 00603 Nairobi Kenya.
Tel: 254 20 276 1000, Email: kenya.co@plan-international.org, www.plan-international.org/kenya