Empowering mothers in Gaibandha

Munmun Akhter, a 23-year-old mother from Dhonaruha village in Gaibandha's Saghata upazila, regularly recites poems and sings to her infant daughter to ensure her cognitive development and enhance her imagination.

"I learned these techniques at the monthly sessions of Championing Play project. Under this project, facilitators taught us the play-based techniques for teaching various life skills to our kids," she said.

Dozens of others like Munmun attended the monthly practical training session organised by Save the Children Bangladesh to equip mothers in Gaibandha with essential parenting skills.

The project focused on physical, linguistic, social, and cognitive development of children aged 0-6 years in the district by reaching out to children, caregivers, and teachers directly.

Under the initiative, mothers in the rural regions of the district were introduced to various play-based learning techniques to equip children with knowledge and other necessary life skills.

As  part of the programme, young mothers and school teachers received "magic bags" which contained 14 educational toys for children.

"The toys are very useful as they help children identify colours, count numbers, boost their imagination and enhance their focus on specific activities," said Sumi Khatun, a mother of two and a regular attendee of the sessions.

Alongside the monthly sessions, the participants could also watch "Golpo Bolar Asor", a television programme that offered origami and toy making lessons and other educational insights. Day-long fairs, with stalls decided to book-reading and crafting, were also organised occasionally in the district under this project.

Mostofa Moin Ur Rahman, senior officer of the project, said the initiative worked in 176 schools across 45 villages in the district, providing parenting lessons to 12,226 parents and caregivers.

The project left a positive impact on 45,000 children. Upon ensured funding, the project will be reinitiated, he added.