Baby Gym opens on La Digue |14 July 2018

A Baby Gym, a new early childhood facility, opened its doors to the La Digue community last Friday.

The Baby Gym, costing some R700,000 is a facility conceptualised by the National Sports Council (NSC) and supported financially by the government through the district’s small community projects fund.

The construction of the Baby Gym was proposed by the La Digue district administrator since 2015.

Works were undertaken in two phases with the main construction followed by the installation of windows, gate and fence to secure the area so as to ensure the children’s safety.

This facility would certainly promote the equality of opportunity allowing the NSC to further decentralise the Baby Gym programme that seeks to promote a culture of sports among children below four years old, improve gross motor skills and act as an early prevention against obesity.  

The Baby Gym was officially opened in the presence of the Member of National Assembly for La Digue, Noline Sophola, the chief executive of NSC, Giovana Rousseau and representatives of the IECD, Ministry of Education, and the management of the local government department, NSC staff plus childminders and day care operators.

Encouraging speeches from the district administrator, Barbara Barallon, and Ms  Rousseau added more warmth to the colourful ceremony.

The La Digue community have shown their appreciation towards the project and the children enjoyed the variety of equipment in the Baby Gym. 

The Baby Gym is accessible to all children under four years old at a fee of R10 per session. 

The accompanying photos show highlights of the launch ceremony.