The popular proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child” highlights the fact that the whole community has an essential role to play in the growth and development of its children. Community engagement is essential to the success and sustainability of any ECCD project – Citizens who participate in these processes show significant commitment to help make the projects happen. Community-driven interventions have several benefits:

• Increase awareness on parenting and critical child development issues.
• Drive attitudinal and behavioural change.
• Build community ownership and engagement in their children’s education and development.

Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Sessions

BMRF conducts quarterly Information, Education and Communication (IEC) sessions in each of the villages on a range of parenting and child development topics for the general public. It also conducts targeted sessions for groups such as fathers, pregnant women, and adolescents to bring about gender transformative approaches in ECCD as well as reach out to select audiences based on a ‘life-cycle’ approach to parenting.

Topics include:

• Brain Development in the Early Years
• Power of Play
• Parenting Skills
• Handling Behaviours
• Fathers’ Role in Parenting