PRESS RELEASE: I WILL Campaign Launch on Early Childhood Development

LAUNCHING OF “I WILL” CAMPAIGN ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

The Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) in partnership with UNICEF, Ghana Health Service and Ghana Education Service is launching the “I WILL” Campaign, an Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiative to promote quality caregiving practices for children aged 0-8. The objective of the campaign is to promote an integrated approach to ECD communication and ensure that all children (0-8 years), especially the most vulnerable, survive, thrive, and develop their maximum potentials.

The 'I WILL' Campaign has been designed to help address the challenges associated with the care of children 0-8 years and serve as a rallying call for parents, guardians and other stakeholders to increase their commitment towards the development of children in their early years of life, while acknowledging the power they have to ensure desired outcomes. This campaign is therefore structured to give parents and stakeholders an opportunity to pledge their commitment to implementing desirable behaviours which will facilitate effective early childhood development in Ghana.

In addition to the launch, series of activities have been outlined in rolling out the campaign at all levels. These include media engagements to sensitize the public about the campaign and ECD issues, community engagements to sensitize communities and solicit support for implementation of the campaign, orientation and training of relevant stakeholders as well as digital promotion of the campaign on various platforms.

The Campaign's communication package includes posters, flash cards, counselling cards, as well as a facilitation guide. These materials provide relevant information on ECD to help improve the knowledge and skills of parents and stakeholders to support optimal development of children in their early childhood period. The materials are available at the offices of the Department of Children, Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, Department of Social Welfare, Department of Community Development, UNICEF Ghana's CSO partners implementing ECD interventions in various communities, and online on the ministry's platforms including the Ghanaians Against Child Abuse (GACA) platform.

As we heed to the clarion call of “leaving no child behind”, there is a compelling reason to intensify efforts to scale-up early childhood development (ECD) interventions to secure a good start for every child. We therefore call on all shareholders to own and champion this campaign and also mainstream it into all existing ECD programmes.

Let us get committed to the development of our young children; the benefits are for all!

For further enquiries, please contact the Department of Children via info.eccd@mogcsp.gov.gh

ISSUED BY THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS UNIT

MINISTRY OF GENDER, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL PROTECTION