Parents at Opuwo are being encouraged to prioritise early childhood education, responsible parenting and child nutrition following lessons shared during a parenting programme aimed at improving children’s well-being.
The call was made during a community engagement session on the RightStart parenting programme at Etati Kindergarten at Opuwo on Monday, as part of a joint European Union (EU), government and United Nations field mission on early childhood development and family well-being.
The Right Start initiative is supported by the EU and Unicef in partnership with the Namibian government. The programme involves relevant government ministries and the World Food Programme in efforts to strengthen early childhood development and family well-being.
Opuwo resident Kurukaze Orokapare says the programme had taught her that children should not miss out on education because their parents cannot afford uniforms.
“I would not take my children to the nearest kindergarten because they did not have uniforms, but now I take them regardless,” she says.
Another participant, Kunondjira Korukuve, says the programme had taught her to be more present in her children’s lives and pay closer attention to their behaviour.
She says children could imitate adults’ actions at home, making it important for parents to be mindful of their behaviour, particularly when children are playing without supervision.
The programme encourages fathers to take a more active role in childcare, emphasising that raising children and building emotional bonds with them are not solely mothers’ responsibilities.
Participants also learnt about child nutrition, responsible parenting and the importance of including parents with disabilities in community support initiatives.
Meanwhile, Mandu Tjikange urges mothers in the Ovahimba community to seek care at health facilities when giving birth, warning of the risks associated with home deliveries, including complications that could endanger mothers and newborns.
“At Opuwo many women choose to give birth at home and I have learned that this can cause so much danger to not only the mother but the baby as well,” he says.
