Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) decided to work together in the field of 'Early Childhood Education'. With the cooperation protocol signed by Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş and UNICEF Country Representative Regina De Dominic, it is aimed to reach more than 2022 children and families by the end of 4.
Ankara Metropolitan Municipality and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) will work together in the field of 'Early Childhood Education'.
With the cooperation protocol signed by Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş and UNICEF Country Representative Regina De Dominic at the presidency, a work plan will be prepared within the scope of 'Early Childhood Education'. Accordingly, it is planned to reach more than 2022 children and families by the end of 4.
YAVAŞ: “It will pave the way for CHILDREN'S EQUAL PARTICIPATION IN THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION”
Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Faruk Çınkı, Head of Women and Family Services Department Serkan Yorgancılar, Head of Foreign Relations Department Ramazan Kabasakal, UNICEF Deputy Country Representative Rory Robertshaw and UNICEF delegation at the protocol ceremony, ABB President Mansur Yavaş, who spoke at the ceremony, agreed that the protocol with UNICEF will be made in the future. Wishing it to set an example for future studies, he said, "We find this project positive, which will support the education of children and the participation of women in employment."
Giving examples of the works of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality at the ceremony, Yavaş made the following evaluations:
“We will make early children ready for education. We provide social assistance to 240 thousand families in Ankara. We have decided to pay the service fees so that their children are equal with other children and can continue their education. We provided stationery aid to 230 thousand children. Because everyone is in a very difficult situation due to the pandemic. We also provided internet assistance to nearly 30 thousand students. There are exams in our country. Again, we pay the exam fees of these children. We have 2 projects implemented for the first time in Turkey. These children, children who will start education at an early age, have nutritional deficiencies. Again, we define the fee that these families can receive from 1 kilo of meat and dairy products each month on their cards. We realized how well we did a good job. In the thank you e-mail I received when we first announced it, it was written, 'My child has been asking me for meatballs for 3 months and I couldn't make them'. The pandemic has affected everyone very badly. Finally, some poor families could not send their children to school because they could not pay their service fees. Applications are close to 12 thousand, and we pay for them. Hopefully, the protocol we signed today will pave the way for both young people and these children to participate equally in the right to education. Hopefully, we will progress by expanding and developing this protocol.”
DOMINIC: “YOUR WORK ON NUTRITION AND COVID IS VERY VALUABLE”
Stating that the signed cooperation protocol is very valuable, UNICEF Country Representative Regina De Dominic said:
“As you say, it is very important for us to reach many children and their families, to ensure that children continue their education at an early age and that families continue to be employed. We are very happy to work in this field. We aim to reach approximately 4 thousand children together with you. Among these children will be the children of Syrian, Afghan and poor families in Turkey. Thanks to these efforts, we aim to ensure that children have access to education and that equal opportunities are offered to all. I want to congratulate and thank you and your team. I hope we can take this partnership to another level.
Special thanks for your initiatives. Your work on both nutrition and Covid-19 is very valuable.”
QUALITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WILL BE CREATED
Within the scope of the protocol, early childhood education will be expanded in the centers of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality where services are provided for children.
Within the framework of the program plan, 20 game rooms will be opened in children's centers. Game rooms in order to create a quality learning environment; In addition to child-friendly furniture, it will be equipped with age-appropriate learning materials such as toys, storybooks, puzzles and musical instruments. While supporting the development of children and their preparation for formal education; Activities attended by parents in centers serving children will be complementary to the community-based 'Early Childhood Education' program.
In addition to these works, toy libraries will be established in children's centers. While these toy libraries will attract children to playrooms, they will also enrich play opportunities in the home environment.
EARLY LEARNING FESTIVALS WILL BE ORGANIZED IN NEIGHBORHOODS
Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, which will cooperate with UNICEF in the field, will organize early learning activities in more than 20 neighborhoods in the Capital.
With the education program, children from different vulnerable groups will be directed to the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality playrooms and supported with activities at the neighborhood level. The Metropolitan Municipality will also supply and distribute the kits prepared to encourage children to participate in the Early Childhood Education program organized in the neighborhoods. Early learning festivals will be held in neighborhoods to raise awareness about the importance of play and Early Childhood Education, and to direct young children and their families to centers serving children.
The capacity building activities and professional development of Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers will be closely monitored and they will be supported by technical experts.
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