w
However, during her visit to Kindergarten
#5 she noticed a terrible smell from the toilets in the facility.
“The smell was so bad that it was difficult
for me to breathe,” she recalled. “On the
way to my office, all I was thinking about
were the children who have to stay there all
day and breathe that bad smell.”
It was cause for immediate concern with
Mahbuba. The conditions of the facility
created an environment that was not conducive for teaching or learning. How could
this holistic ECD program truly be successful if everyone — teachers and students
alike — was distracted by the conditions of
the building?
She submitted a grant request to CAI-US
to repair the toilets, kitchen, and windows
of the building. The grant was approved.
Subsequently, one block of the building was
completely repaired. Repairs included the
removal of lead paint, installation of a new
sewage system, fixing a leaking roof, and
other structural improvements. A second
block of the building is under construction.
Mahbuba reports that the impact of CAI
support is significant.
“Before improvements were made, parents reported their children did not want
14 | JOURNEY OF HOPE
to go to school and would beg that their
parents see their toilets,” she said. “Now,
Kindergarten #5 has an education system with new methodology. The toilets,
kitchen, and windows now meet building
standards. The children are happy to have
toilets, basins, new kitchen sinks, and hot
water.”
However, Mahbuba isn’t going to stop
there. She has requested funds for a boundary wall to provide a safe playground for
the boys and girls. She also is in the planning stages of the second phase of the ECD
training for instructors that will begin in
November 2015.
With Mahbuba’s passion, drive, and determination she will complete an entire
model project for an early childhood development center that other partners and
CAI grant recipients can easily duplicate in
the future.
At CAI, we believe that all children have
the right to an education. That is our main
focus. We also believe that all children
have the right to be raised in an environment that allows them to reach their full
potential in life.
The ECD teacher-training program and the
work done to bring Kindergarten #5 up to the
latest standards align with this belief. The children have access to modern