New message board campaign to promote early childhood care, education |23 November 2017
Locally made billboards with important messages relating to small children, their growth, development and family life will soon be displayed in strategic spots and different public areas around town and elsewhere with the aim to raise and promote awareness on this important component of a child’s development.
The message boards were unveiled on Tuesday afternoon in a short ceremony hosted by the Institute of Early Childhood Development (IECD) at its head office at Le Chantier Mall.
The chief executive of IECD, Shirley Choppy, and the chairperson of its board Captain David Savy unveiled a sample of the five message boards in the presence of a group of children and their parents who worked on and came up with the different messages which are in both English and Creole. Also present were the staff of the IECD among other guests.
The children received copies of their posters and a token of appreciation.
Unveiling of the billboard awareness campaign coincided with the Universal Children’s Day commemorated earlier this week and also the 5th anniversary of IECD.
During the short ceremony guests got a better insight into the IECD, how it all started five years ago, the challenges it has to overcome, its achievements and where it is now.
“The milestones we reached in 2017 came after five years of hard work, relentless efforts and steady progress. We mean that very sincerely—and there are people who are present here today and unfortunately not all of them are here, who deserve much of the credit for that progress.
“Minister Jeanne Simeon, Ambassador Bernard Shamlaye, Secretary of State Mohammed Afif, former Secretary General Lise Bastienne, Consultant at the Ministry of Education Selby Dora, IECD chief executive Shirley Choppy and Consultant Dr. Andre Leste … the distinguished founding members of the IECD, the chairperson and members of IECD board of directors and staff members … there is no way to adequately thank you all for what you have built in IECD’s early years to date,” Laurette Lebon, a staff member of the IECD, pointed out.
“Without your focused commitment to improving Early Childhood Care and Education, dedication to building a solid and reputable organisation that could really make a difference, we simply would not be where we are today,” she pointed out.
Jasmine Talma, information & communication officer at the IECD, gave an overview of the awareness campaign while Julina Françoise, the director for advocacy and information in a poem retraced the work of the institute and took guests on a journey through the IECD and the ECCE.
Everyone present then toured a small exhibition displaying the IECD’s 5-year achievements alongside the newly unveiled message board.