City of Windhoek comes up with plan to focus on its children

THE CITY of Windhoek has approved a proposal to come up with an early childhood development policy, aimed at improving the lives of children in the capital.

This was approved at the monthly City Council meeting in Windhoek on Wednesday evening. The objectives of the policy are to promote the provision of childcare and education services, programmes and facilities, promote the implementation of programmes aimed at childcare and school readiness, and co-ordinate the training of caregivers.The policy will also seek to promote family involvement in support of child development and to promote basic health, nutrition, security and safety programmes for children.Windhoek Mayor Matheus Shikongo also announced that the City of Windhoek had entered into partnerships with sister cities and other development partners.These are the Finnish cities of Vantaa, Helsinki and Espoo, whose combined technical delegation is currently visiting Windhoek.Windhoek and Vantaa signed a co-operation agreement in 2002 under the North-South Local Authority Co-operation Programme.Shikongo said under this agreement projects in priority areas such as community libraries, SME development and cultural tourism were implemented.The Windhoek-Vantaa agreement was renewed in 2005.At this time, the cities of Helsinki and Espoo came on board too because they were impressed with the progress made.The objectives of the policy are to promote the provision of childcare and education services, programmes and facilities, promote the implementation of programmes aimed at childcare and school readiness, and co-ordinate the training of caregivers.The policy will also seek to promote family involvement in support of child development and to promote basic health, nutrition, security and safety programmes for children.Windhoek Mayor Matheus Shikongo also announced that the City of Windhoek had entered into partnerships with sister cities and other development partners.These are the Finnish cities of Vantaa, Helsinki and Espoo, whose combined technical delegation is currently visiting Windhoek.Windhoek and Vantaa signed a co-operation agreement in 2002 under the North-South Local Authority Co-operation Programme.Shikongo said under this agreement projects in priority areas such as community libraries, SME development and cultural tourism were implemented.The Windhoek-Vantaa agreement was renewed in 2005.At this time, the cities of Helsinki and Espoo came on board too because they were impressed with the progress made.