Miracle Foundation’s CFE (Centre for Excellence) initiatives follow a four-pronged approach. These include building capacity and training of staff at CCIs, building a community of CCIs, getting government-run childcare institutions and other NGOs to participate, and a focus on guided self-assessment.
In its first year, the CFE was jointly planned and launched by Miracle Foundation India and the SEDT for the Marathwada/ Aurangabad division of the state of Maharashtra. It brought together 25 organizations from 8 districts in Aurangabad to make a positive impact on the standards of care at childcare institutions across the state.
Miracle Foundation India recently held the Valediction for the second year of its CFE in Aurangabad, Maharashtra on 25th June, 2019. In keeping with its goal to help every child realize their full potential, the organization introduced a training model through its CFE in April 2017.
The main focus of the year-long initiative is to enhance the quality of childcare that is delivered in childcare institutions across the country. This year marks the completion of Phase 2 of the initiative and the Chief Guest at the ceremony was Aparna Ashtaputre, Head Department of Psychology, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University.
During the ceremony, the participants of the CFE initiative were felicitated for their involvement and efforts towards creating an enabling environment for children across childcare institutions (CCIs). The event was attended by the heads of 13 CCIs along with children from the institutions. Also present were senior representatives from the Socio-Economic Development Trust (SEDT) Maharashtra, as well as other members the CFE and Miracle Foundation India teams.
In Phase 2 of the CFE program, Miracle Foundation India began working with 17 CCIs, while continuing its association with 14 CCIs as they being consistently involved throughout the 2nd year. Over the course of the year, the participants were trained extensively in skills such as hygiene, child rights, family-based care, life skills, career counselling and health & nutrition, amongst others.
A major impact of the second year of the CFE initiatives was seen through the Hepatitis B, MR and Typhoid vaccination of over 500 children from 11 CCIs. This was carried out by the Health and Beyond Foundation with support from Miracle Foundation. Additionally, close to 400 children from 12 CCIs were trained by the CCI staff on Life Skill Education (LSE) which focused on topics such as effective communication, goal-setting, stress management, self-awareness and self-care.
Children were also given career counselling sessions and aptitude tests by the CFE team and expert counsellors, organized by Miracle Foundation India and I-Dream Career. Additionally, Miracle Foundation India successfully organized the Children Leadership Council at SEDT-Kerwadi, which saw the participation of 25 children and 9 staff from 11 CCIs. Apart from equipping staff with the right tools and facilitating an enabling environment for children, the interactions through the program have helped by strengthening the bond between the staff and children as well.
Nivedita DasGupta, Country Head, Miracle Foundation India said, “It is heart-warming to see the way our children and staff have come together. This is a result of their sustained efforts to not only carry out our practices and impart the training but to give each child the special attention and care they deserve. We will continue to develop the program for years to come, as it is not just the children and staff who stand to learn from us, but us from their experiences too.”
