Quality education in Fiji

“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play, children learn how to learn.”- O. Fred Donaldson

The Early Childhood Education project focuses on working with children 3 - 4 years of age and is located in Silana. Children from the following villages Nasinu, Silana and Nataleira attend sessions that happen 3 days a week Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9.00 am - 12 pm currently a total of 21 children attend the “Learning Through Play” 

What is learning through play?

Learning through play is an approach to learning where play is the valued mode of learning – where children can explore, experiment, discover, and solve problems in imaginative and playful ways.

Through play, children can develop social and cognitive skills, mature emotionally, and gain the self-confidence to engage in new experiences and environments.

The week is planned each Monday. A theme is chosen and all the lessons are broken down into 30 minute slots. The lessons focus on Prime Developmental Goals:

• Personal, Social-Emotional Development.- Making relationships self -confidence and self-awareness, managing feelings and behaviour 
• Physical Development - Moving and handling, health and self-care
• Communication and Language - Listening and attention, understanding, speaking

And Specific Developmental Goals

All three Prime Developmental Goals areas are always being used in a young child. In every activity, the child is experiencing feelings and developing a sense of self and others, is physically engaged through their senses and movements, and is learning to understand and communicate with others.  It is through these aspects that a child accesses the world around them and relationships with other people, which in turn opens the door to learning in all areas. The Prime areas therefore strongly influence learning in the Specific areas of learning and development.

Specific developmental goals will not only prepare children for pre-primary school but will also prepare them for the world. By implementing these at an early age, we are taking the steps in which children will be equipped with knowledge and skills for their personal, social and educational success.

To ensure a holistic approach, we also delivered short courses for caregivers communicating the importance of Early Childhood Development and how children can be supported at home, focusing on the importance of parental involvement in the development of language and communication skills; motor skills; collaboration; and problem-solving. Sharing ideas on productive play and involvement with children, including creating activities and making toys that promote cognitive development. These sessions are run alongside the playgroup sessions which allows parents to attend while their children are enjoying learning and playing with their friends. 

Your ongoing support will is appreciated. Funds can be used for resources for children's play activities as well as for resources for adult workshops where parents and caregivers can learn about the importance of play.  

This new aspect of our education project is off to a great start and we look forward to sharing future progress with you.

Thank you for your support,

The Fiji Team

Education 

The Early Childhood Education project focus on working with children 4 years of age and under in the villages of Nasinu, Silana and Nataleira a total of 43 children, facilitating learning through play sessions that support the development of skills in key developmental areas – cognitive, emotional, social and physical. Each village is visited twice a week; one-morning session focusing on cognitive learning and one-afternoon session focusing on social and physical learning. 

In April we will start the project again after a two-year closure due to  COVID. We are busy putting together educational resources packs to aid the volunteers in teaching. Each pack is designed around a theme i.e cars, balls. Then the volunteer will plan the lessons for three days using the resources packs. They will be assisted by a local community member who will help them plan and deliver the lessons. 

To ensure a holistic approach, we also delivered short courses for caregivers communicating the importance of Early Childhood Development and how children can be supported at home, focusing on the importance of parental involvement in the development of language and communication skills; motor skills; collaboration; and problem-solving. Sharing ideas on productive play and involvement with children, including creating activities and making toys that promote cognitive development. These sessions are run alongside the playgroup sessions this allows parents to attend while their children are enjoying learning and playing with their friends.