Training of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs)

The AWWs play a pivotal role in the ICDS scheme and have a wide range of responsibilities including running the centres, enrolment, organising immunisation sessions, making home visits to pregnant mothers, and conducting the pre-school education activities. They however face innumerable local challenges like lack of in-depth training, inadequate staffing, and poor infrastructure and supervision. Regular training and capacity building as well as support services are essential to their success.

In the first 3 years of the ECCD project, BMRF invested heavily in training AWWs on key aspects of child development, including the miracle of the brain, the power of play and school readiness, as well as holistic parenting in the early years. The training programme also orientated AWWs on effective communication and interaction with children and parents in the community.

Training of Field Staff

BMRF has its own field staff who are from the local community to support the AWWs in conducting centre-based activities as well as implement all other project deliverables. This is in line with recommendations by various ECCD policy commissions on the need for more support staff for the AWWs to enhance the effectiveness of the scheme.

The field staff undergo a comprehensive 6-day ECCD training programme along with regular yearly refresher programmes to update their skills and knowledge. Our training programme covers an extensive range of holistic parenting and child development modules for the early years with local practical applications. Holistic child development focuses on the joint stimulation of all 5 key domains of development – physical, cognitive, language and socio-emotional.

Core topics in the training programme include learning through play, miracle of the brain, health, hygiene and nutrition, school readiness, behavioural problems, effective communication, positive parenting, and enhancing potential through multiple intelligences.