daycare centres. These
illegal daycare facilities are
overcrowded, understaffed
and poorly equipped. One
recently discovered in a
poor ghetto of Beirut had
twenty children in one small,
hot room. There were two
mattresses on the floor. Half
of the children were tied to
chairs.
It is estimated that the
number of undocumented
children of migrant
domestic workers
in Lebanon runs
well into the
thousands. These
children are born
into circumstances
that cast a shadow
of uncertainty over
their future. With
little to fall back on
in terms of familial
or social support,
education is integral
to their chances of
flourishing. Research
indicates that a good
pre-school is a key
indicator of future
success in education.
WhaT are you
hoping To achieve
long Term WiTh
your daycare? if
iT is successful
Would you like To
expand eTc?
Ideally we are aiming
to providing a nurturing
daycare centre for the
babies and preschool
children of migrant workers
(aged 0-4). A centre where
these children are safe,
nurtured, appreciated
and age appropriately
challenged. The centre
will provide a rounded
education, including
modelling and teaching
good nutrition and hygiene
practices and well as other
skills (while of course having
plenty of fun and learning
basic preschool concepts!)
When the centre is up and
running we will begin to
offer classes for the mothers
and parenting, nutrition,
English, computing and
other useful skills.
Ideally we are hoping to
train migrant workers/
refugees to be carers and
teachers at the daycare
alongside foreign and
local volunteers. If we get
more funding we hope to
open another in a different
but equally needy area of
Lebanon.
hoW can people help
WiTh donaTions of goods
or money?
The building and running of
the daycare will rely entirely
on donations. We have had
many generous donations
so far, both in cash and kind.
We have enough money
to start building the centre
but need more to pay for
electricity/water/
staff costs/food and
supplies.
A local company
has kindly donated a
container and a Sydney
mum's Facebook group
has banded together to
collect donations and to
pack the container.
We have walkers,
bouncers, cots, slides,
cubbies, puzzles, books,
kitchen equipment,
some furniture and
so much more! So
amazing what a group
of mums can achieve
when they get together!
We are looking for
donations to help cover
the cost of customs and
duty in Lebanon when
the container arrives.
We are also looking
for `in kind'' donations
of furniture, educational
equipment and general
supplies (formula, nappies,
wipes etc). Any donations to
cover ongoing costs would
also be highly appreciated!
ByTanikaRobertson
8