Lively Minds

Rural women are some of most resourceful people in the world, yet they are consistently underestimated and chronically under supported. Learn the facts here: https://lnkd.in/dMmVuyn7 Over 64% of women in lower-income countries work in agriculture, using their knowledge and skills to grow food and sustain their families and communities. Yet because they often lack formal education - just 2% of the poorest rural women in low-income countries complete upper secondary school - they face limiting and damaging perceptions which can result in them being excluded from decisions that affect their communities. Over 50% of girls from poor rural households will be married as children, with 30% giving birth without a skilled health worker present. Because of these life-changing events, they are determined to give their children a better start than they had. THESE are the women Lively Minds reaches with our early years parenting programme. By listening to their needs and ambitions, we are able to uplift their voices within their community; show them how valued and important they are; and teach them new early years parenting and life skills. Here they are learning how to teach an outdoor game as part of their commitment to running kindergarten play scheme groups in local schools. Today is the #InternationalDayOfRuralWomen - to the rural women in Ghana, Uganda and around the world, we salute you! You are at the heart of everything we do.

On International Day of the Girl Child, we're recognizing the huge potential of girls in the rural communities we serve. Girls of today are tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors and leaders! We're working to give all children a stronger start in life through quality care and education. Our programme ensures pre-primary age children learn through play and receive responsive care which develops important socio-emotional, literacy and mathematics skills. Our parenting workshops encourage parents to give their girls the same opportunities as their boys to learn and grow so they can meet their full potential. By supporting boys and girls during this critical stage, their chances of success increase, despite growing up in environments affected by climate effects, poverty and gender inequality. Let's invest in our girls to strengthen societies, inspire change and create a fairer future. #InternationalDayOfTheGirlChild

Today is #WorldTeachersDay, a day to celebrate everyone who plays a teaching role. This includes the Mothers who have participated in the Lively Minds programme, with support from Ghana Education Service kindergarten teachers in Ghana and Village Health Teams in Uganda. At Lively Minds, we see parents as valuable teachers - they are whom children spend most of their time with after all. This Mother has improved her knowledge and confidence in providing care and education for children by attending workshops on early learning, responsive caregiving and more. She has also learned how to lead educational group games and activities. Mothers in our programme feel proud to be learning and teaching, and we are even prouder to work with them. Happy #WorldTeachersDay to all teachers in schools, in the home and in the community!

Yesterday, i had the pleasure of joining our incredible setup team yesterday at Radach Lodge and Conference Center for the Star Players training as we prepare for our upcoming ToT (Training of Trainers) session. The Star Players, who are high-performing KG teachers in the GES Lively Minds play scheme programme, have been selected to support the Lively Minds Technical team in rolling out our programme in new districts. The purpose of the training is to deepen their understanding of the program's principles, familiarize themselves with the ToT content, and ensure they are well-prepared to deliver a high-quality training experience alongside our team. I took the opportunity to congratulate these exceptional educators for their outstanding performance in their schools and for taking on the responsibility of being Star Players. I also expressed my gratitude for their commitment and encouraged them to always prioritize quality in their work. Their dedication to improving early childhood education is inspiring, and I am confident they will excel in this new role. Let’s continue to support and celebrate teachers who go above and beyond to shape the next generation! #LivelyMinds #EarlyChildhoodEducation #TOTTraining #QualityEducation #StarPlayers

We are delighted to be featured in the Ghanaian press for getting quality early childhood development to children in last-mile communities. Currently, in partnership with the Ghana Education Service, our programme reaches over 240,000 children and 110,000 parents in northern Ghana! Thank you to the Ghana Education Service for collaborating with us to ensure children in the most deprived areas receive the care and education they need for a strong start in life. #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #Ghana #EarlyChildhoodEducation https://lnkd.in/dW8RiH7e

So thrilled that Lively Minds is a finalist for Jacobs Foundation's Best Practice Prize award. We are deeply honoured.(Less glamorously I then had to do this filming when fall of cold. I was hoping to sound husky and sophisticated...but obviously don't).

How can we ensure there is quality early childhood care and education in rural communities in Ghana? One solution lies with their caregivers💡 Lively Minds —a finalist for our Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize—trains parents and caregivers in communities to run educational play schemes for preschool children, tapping into the community's talents and energies. 🤝 📌 Read more about their work in Ghana and Uganda: https://bit.ly/4eQKSQ1 ⬇️ Hear more from Alison Naftalin, founder and CEO of Lively Minds. #BestPracticePrize #Education #Ghana #QualityEducation #SustainableEducation

We are thrilled to be selected as finalists for the Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize! Through parenting workshops, playschemes and radio shows, parents improve their self esteem and caregiving knowledge, while children enjoy better quality education and care. Watch a snapshot here 👇

We're delighted to see Alhaji Mohammed Haroon (Cambodia) receiving much deserved recognition for his contribution to education.