The shared involvement of both parents is essential for the proper development of children. In rural India, it is still very common to consider mothers as the ones responsible for education. Men, on the other hand, are responsible for supporting the household, making them less involved in their children’s development.
To encourage the equal participation of parents, Karuna has set up an initiative to raise awareness among fathers.
Ensuring quality education for young children
The Early Childhood Development program is one of Karuna’s flagship initiatives.
Based on two main axes, its aim is to improve the educational prospects of children aged 0 to 8 by training teachers in play-based pedagogical practices. This enables them to develop in a healthy, caring environment.
At the same time, we pay particular attention to ensuring that parents acquire the right tools to look after their children in the best possible way. Parenting courses are therefore one of the cornerstones of this program.
Encouraging the presence of fathers
We observed that mother figures were the most committed and active participants in the program, taking a keen interest in their children’s schooling and healthy growth.
Karuna encourages fathers‘ participation with parent-teacher meetings (PTMs).
These are aimed exclusively at fathers and male guardians of children in the Early Childhood Development program.
In this context, they are sensitized to the theme of child development. Through workshops based on theory, play and exchange, they learn how to understand and provide for their young children’s needs.
The teachers teach them how to look after their children properly, provide them with good food, raise them with kindness and ensure their good hygiene.
The sessions also provide a forum for sharing personal stories. They can also regularly discuss their children’s progress.
Beyond raising fathers’ awareness of the importance of education, these sessions provide practical tools and strategies to support children’s learning at home. It’s also an invitation to rethink the traditional roles of men and women.
An initiative that benefits parents and children alike
Ajay Mallah, father of 4-year-old Anand Kumar, is satisfied. He takes an active part in the activities. His son, Anand, has been attending the center for one and a half year.
At first, he was very shy and didn’t dare express himself. Now, Anad participates with great commitment and confidently recites what he learns.
Pleased with his son’s progress, Ajay testifies after a meeting:
“I really enjoyed the meeting. It gave me a deeper understanding of how the ECD curriculum by Karuna-Shechen is implemented.
Including us, fathers, in this initiative is a fantastic idea and will greatly benefit our children.”
Ajay Mallah
Encouraging results
The interest from fathers is already high. It has been observed that participation in the Early Childhood Development program leads to better school results for children, as they benefit from equal support and encouragement from both parents.
Although breaking down stereotypes takes time, this involvement represents an important step towards a more inclusive and effective educational framework.
