Strengthening the Foundation Ensuring Quality in Anganwadi Centres (AWC) through HUBs

1. Strengthening the FoundationEnsuring Quality in Anganwadi Centres (AWC) through HUBs Conference on Early Learning – Status and the Way Forward 25-27 September 2013

2. Anganwadis in Delhi • Anganwadi’s provide a range of services which include growth monitoring, immunization, pre-school education for the 0-6 age group. • They also support pregnant women and lactating mothers. • However the extension services are difficult to provide as majority of these centers are extremely small (with less than 100 square feet space), inadequate arrangement of drinking water and toilets and a scarcity of equipment. • The same room is being used as living space by the owner. • There is little play material or any learning activities for children.

3. On ‘HUB’ • The Department of Women and Child Development, Delhi Government describes the concept as – a central place of decent size with 20 small anganwadi centres as satellites. • Located in the community the centre will have space for infrastructure, material and human resource to act as a ‘Resource Hub’ for the anganwadis in its catchment area (within 1 to 1.5 km). • 10 anganwadicenters would be attached to the ‘HUB’ where everyday children from two AWC would visit the ‘HUB’ once in a week i.e. from Monday to Friday. They will be accompanied by the AWW and the helper. • The HUB Centre staff in turn will visit one anganwadi from the remaining 10 anganwadis on everyday basis.

4. The Structure • It has to be a space in the community – either the MCD or Delhi government school or a private space on rent, 2 rooms of size 120 square feet each besides a toilet and store room.. • Capacity to accommodate 100-150 children on weekly basis • The Function • “Holistic development’ of the child by comprehensively addressing the need for care, nutrition, health, well-being and early literacy. • To conduct training and demonstration for the attached AWW on a monthly basis. • All pregnant and lactating mothers registered with the anganwadicenters visit the ‘HUB’ once a month and counselled on nutrition, child care etc. • To have a collection of literature on health, education and other contemporary topics.

5. Okhla ‘HUB’ Centre • Starting in 2011, Save the Children initiated the HUB concept with the AWCs and slum communities in Okhla (Tehkhand Village and GolKuan) in partnership with Hope Worldwide. • We recognised the significance of involving parents, family and community members through awareness meetings and campaignsparticularly the mothers living in the slums, around health and hygiene and importance of school readiness skills for children under 6 • Formation and strengthening of Mothers’ Groups • Build linkages and facilitate transition from AWCs to adjacent Primary schools • Hold public hearings on status of AnganwadiCentres

6. Okhla ‘HUB’ Centre • Development of training modules and material in collaboration with DWCD. (HANDBOOK) • Provision of learning and play material at target AnganwadiCentres • A paediatrician and gynaecologist visits the centre once every month • OUR AIM • A stimulating early learning environment within 20 AWC to provide school readiness skills to children enabling their smooth transition to primary schools and preventing them from ending up on streets.

7. Okhla ‘HUB’ Centre • The HUB centre has supported 2345 children so far. • Out of which 897 children are in the 3-6 age group. • 421 children have been mainstreamed into primary schools. • 20 mother’s group with 15 mothers in each group, formation and regular monthly meetings • 20 AWW workers directly supported by the centre. • 435 children have got fully immunized. • No. of children who have got health check-ups is 1039 • No. of pregnant women supported are 630 • No. of lactating mothers supported are 655 (Starting in March 2011. As on August 2013)

8. Evidence from Exemplary Practices • AWW are leading the mothers group in monthly meetings on various issues including importance of early literacy skills, malnutrition, health and sanitaiton. • Mothers Group leaders are also leading the mothers group discussions. • Mothers group have taken the responsibiliy to activate the anganwadis running in the homes of anganwadi workers • Mothers group have also supported in community mobilisation for e.g. nutrition and health days every month. • Some of them have formed a self-support group for their members especially for malnutrition cases, referral for pregnant women and school admissions.

9. Evidence from Exemplary Practices • Audio visual aids, Blocks for constructive play, dolls, puppet, masks, kitchen sets, mirrors, weighting scales, clock etc • Material to develop Language skills – Books and picture books, storing telling aid puppets, story cards, sound board, conversation cards, legos etc • Material to develop cognitive skills –cards, picture jigsaw and self correcting puzzles for matching, sorting, arranging, classifying, problem solving, memory and sequential thinking to develop cognitive skills. • Musical and art material for creative expression such as paints, crayons, sketches • Indigenous play materials and teacher made learning materials using available resources

10. Evidence from Exemplary Practices • Encourage exploration at home by mothers to utilise the ample opportunities for incidental early learning arising from daily activities. • Discussion on the child’s progress in the mothers group • There have been regular interactions with MCD schools. • Facilitators from the HUB Centre have been included in the School committee. • The schools have explained the importance of pre literacy skills to parents and community members. • Intensive counselling for children and their families. • Sharing of everyday experiences and free talk with children.

11. Key Emergent Literacy Knowledge Areas  Knowing what Books are Knowing about the Alphabet Understanding Print Understanding about Words and Sounds Talking and Listening 11

12. Key Emergent Math Knowledge Areas  Sorting and Classification Comparison and Measurement Patterns Geometry Numbers and Counting 12

13. Exit and Sustainability Strategy • DWCD initiative. • Community participation to “own” the centre. • The processes initiated will continue to attract children and community attention. • Some of the challenges faced include tracking drop-out children and keeping a record of children who have migrated from the community. • After a successful pilot at Okhla the DWCD is expanding this concept to open 15 new similar centres in other areas including Kabool Nagar, Shahdara, Geeta Colony, Karawal Nagar, Khichripur, Ghonda, Sonia Vihar, Panchal Nagar, and Mandoli.

14. Anganwadi Centre HUB Centre

15. Hope to make immediate and lasting changes…. Thank You!