A Preschool in Ethiopia ???? ????

Hello!

The month of March 2023, is here already.

You can tell from the dancer that I am happy about this edition of the Newsletter!

For this entry I?went on a special journey (via Zoom!) to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!?

As usual I must mention a caveat - this is one of many, many preschools in Ethiopia.

I reached out to the founding owner of the Humpty Dumpty Nursery, Sara Carcatella and she kindly set aside 40 minutes of her day to answer my questions.

You will be interested to learn about the origin story and the values-based approach that Sara has developed as she serves the children and families in her community. There are even tips for running a successful preschool.

Origin Story Humpty Dumpty Nursery, Ethiopia

Sara moved to Ethiopia 20 years ago and started work as an NGO employee (nothing to do with early childhood education:)).?

?With the birth of her son, she decided to start a preschool of her own because she needed a quality-driven setting for him. Her son was the first student of the nursery.

From the beginning, she took joy in the start-up process and was devoted enough to train as a Montessori Guide. The preschool has been in operation for over 12 years.

?Sara started small and the nursery grew over time, admitting children from 18 months to 6 years. It is a boutique preschool (65+ children) combining the ethoses of Reggio Emilia and Montessori. Sara originates from Italy and both curricula started in this nation.

Sara is very keen on children learning from a play-based approach. This is somewhat different from many cases in the Ethiopian national curriculum, which is relatively academic and encourages learning through technology. Humpty Dumpty nursery offers a hands-on approach.

?As the manager, Sara? leads a team of 22. She is responsible for training staff to maintain quality provision and this added value means that there is a lower turnover of staff.?

When asked, Sara confirmed that there is one Montessori Training Centre located in Wolaita Soddo, a few hours away from Addis, the capital city. The fees at Humpty Dumpty are reasonable so that Ethiopian families access high-quality provision. Her setting has a mixed clientele of Ethiopians and expatriates.?

What works well at Humpty Dumpty Nursery

Factors contributing to the success of Humpty Dumpty nursery include:?

• Staff retention. There is a good team dynamic and Sara has created a family atmosphere.?
• There is solid and clear communication with parents. This has been intentional as it is essential to take on board the parents' view.
• The nursery meets the individual requirements of children including children with special needs.?
• There is a safe, nurturing and caring environment and the preschool remains flexible in meeting parental needs.?
• Respect amongst staff and all stakeholders is a priority.
• Recently, Sara has employed a special needs teacher. This has been good for the children in the nursery who are now supported adequately. It brings an added-value to the services provided.
• Children with special needs benefit from vertical age grouping in which there are various ages of children within one classroom. The nurturing environment helps them significantly and it has become a much more inclusive place of learning.

Challenges

As with every preschool or school, there are challenges.?

• At Humpty Dumpty, one of the challenges is the safety and security in the country due to the war in Tigray that ended recently and occasional clashes in various parts of the country. This affects both teachers and families and there is an element of insecurity.
• Additionally, the economic situation means that staff require support and as a leader, Sara is careful to make help.?
• Getting hold of materials and resources can be difficult as they are not readily available.?
• In the past, convincing parents about the benefits of learning through play was a challenge but, with the success of many children over the years, it is easier to convince parents of the importance of a play-based approach.
• Sara reiterated that the mainstream curriculum is very academic and she has to provide her children with sufficient experience and teaching for them to succeed when they do entrance tests.

If there was a magic wand….

Sara would wish for:

1. ?Larger premises to admit more children and provide a free preschool for her staff. Presently, not all of the teams' children can attend the nursery. If she had more space this would become a reality.?
2. Expansion - to build a government-approved elementary/primary school.

In service of lower-income communities?

When I asked about her work within lower-income communities, she confirmed that she has supported children - training staff and providing locally produced material to several nurseries.

Due to the covid restrictions and other factors, it was a one-time effort, hopefully, to be repeated in the future.

When I asked for her solutions for children living in poverty (vulnerable children), we agreed that solutions aren't solely focused on access to high-quality education.

Parents need to understand the value of education but if a family has limited income, children may be sent to work instead of school. Meeting the basic needs of life takes precedence. It is an impossible choice.?

?‘Sara Says’?

“One of the solutions will be to take a social approach, a whole community approach working with multiple stakeholders so that the varying needs of children and families are met (nutrition, health and education)”.?

In closing..

I am sure that you will agree that this was a worthwhile interview.?

Thanks to Sara Carcatella in Addis Ababa!

Website link to Humpty Dumpty Nursery: https://humptydumptyaddis.wixsite.com/daycare ?

Website for further information on early childhood education in Ethiopia:

Early Childhood Education in Ethiopia

Recommended Resources (RR)

Early educators that I know simply love recommended resources. It makes it easy to click on a link to access up-to-date best practices.

Child Development

Here are four quick thoughts on the essence of child development and why it warrants a closer look.

• Understanding how children develop will help you when you are planning lessons and implementing the curriculum of your choice.
• Knowledge and understanding of child development will benefit the children that you serve.
• Competence in child development will make it easier to provide holistic teaching, as children are seen as individuals within the context of their home and culture.
• When child development is a priority, you can build an enabling and engaging environment where children are resilient, independent and confident.?

Resources

1. 8 Things to Remember About Child Development:

https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/8-things-remember-child-development

1. One of my favourite books (I have several!) from my children's library.

Conclusion?

I trust that you have found this newsletter instructive.?

If you have any relevant products or services that you would like to share with me to impact the education of young children in Sub-Saharan Africa, please send a message via LinkedIn or email - [email protected]

P.S. The invitation is open to subscribe and join the Impact the Child tribe!?

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Patricia Mezu M.A.Ed., AMI Montessori Dipl., CTI Coach | Website