Bringing Families Together in Namibia

Like so many parents around the world, Mirjam in Okatana, Namibia, always wanted what was best for her young children, but she was never quite sure how best to nurture their development. When she participated in a volunteer community training program through Episcopal Relief & Development, where she learned to Nurture & Nourish the Earliest Learners, her whole perspective on early childhood development shifted.

As a part of the program, she learned the value of play, music and raising children in community with many caregivers — knowledge that she carried home with her. She says she used to get annoyed when her children would sing at home; now, she embraces the music, joy and imagination her little ones bring and sets time aside for play.

Mirjam now feels that she’s in a position to be not only a positive parent to her children, but also a positive role model for other parents in her community. She hopes to share her newfound knowledge of early childhood development with her neighbors and build a bright future for the next generation.