Saberes project
Not only are slum children poor, but most are also neglected. In order to mitigate this problem, the Colombian government has been employing day-care providers (Madres Comunitarias) since 1987, who care for children from the neighborhood in their homes. However, these women lack the necessary training. In most cases, their poor living conditions are unsuitable for this sensitive task.
Nevertheless, it is a fact that good care and support is crucial to further development, especially in early childhood. In line with this, the Limmat Stiftung is offering training to the day-care providers, hence enabling them to provide real education to the young children entrusted to their care.
Training program for daycare providers
The Fundación Carvajal, a long-standing local partner of the Limmat Stiftung, developed the multifaceted concept of Saberes. After running the successful pilot project in 2008, the method continues to be refined. By the end of 2016, 900 daycare providers had already been awarded the “técnica auxiliar en cuidados primera infancia” (supplementary education in early childhood care) diploma.
Thanks to Saberes, 10,800 toddlers now receive improved care in their early childhood so that they are better prepared to begin school and enabled to master their future lives.
Saberes Knowledge Transfer
In the meantime, Saberes has been recognized as an accredited educational program by the authorities and is being adopted by other foundations. One of these organizations is the Fundación Las Golondrinas based in Medellín, which has been taking care of poor children for years. Saberes‘ knowledge transfer program began in June 2016 and lasts for over a year. An expert team from Fundación Carvajal gives instructors from the Fundación Golondrinas on-the-job training for one week every month. With the support of Fundación Carvajal, the Fundación Golondrinas team is already training 120 caregivers in the Saberes method by the end of 2017. Over the next few years, a further 460 day careproviders will be gradually trained in 14 municipalities throughout the province of Antioquia (Medellín region). They will then be able to provide care for around 7,000 children in total.
Swissocial conducted a scientific evaluation of the program. The sample size will ensure 95 percent reliability with an error margin of 5 percent.
The Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI), the impact measurement tool for use in projects where children are the primary beneficiaries, is being used to evaluate the project. The ECDI uses 9 indicators to quantitatively determine the different changes (intended and unintended; positive or negative) experienced by the beneficiaries that are directly or indirectly attributable to the project.
The ten indicators used are the following:
1. Gross physical evaluation
2. Fine physical motoric evaluation
3. Sensor-perceptive (tactile, superficial and deep), proprioceptive, vestibular and visual senses
4. Anthropometric
5. Language
6. Pre-writing and graphology
7. Collective tangible social
8. Good treatment
9. Collective Intangible social - Inter-personal behavior – communication skills
10. Collective Intangible family - Family dynamics – level of community involvement (school).
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Conclusions
1. The Saberes project has had a positive impact.
2. The beneficiaries of the project have improved significantly in the indicators: fine motor, sensory, anthropometric, language and tangible social collective.