Suzette Moses, MP Silveria Jacobs and La-Toya Charles.
PHILIPSBURG--Member of Parliament (MP) Silveria Jacobs in her capacity as chairwoman of Parliament’s Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Committee CECYS recently met UNICEF liaison La-Toya Charles and Community Mobiliser Suzette Moses for an update about activities and programmes aimed at improving education and the youth post-Hurricane Irma.
The organisation helped the Education Ministry to reopen schools, provided technical assistance, social emotional support assessment and training, and assistance with school-feeding in collaboration with the Red Cross.
UNICEF received funding for its activities in 2018 from the Dutch Red Cross and the Dutch Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK. Together with local government partners, UNICEF identified the need to provide technical assistance with the further development of the Comprehensive School Safety Framework, inter-ministerial child protection systems, and strengthening of the early childhood development sector.
Charles, according to a press statement from Jacobs, said the concern is while rebuilding of schools is a priority, vital features to rebuilding a disaster resilient education sector such as child-friendly facilities conducive to 21st Century Learning, aligned school disaster management on a national and school level linked to regional and global models, quality early stimulation for all children 0-4 years old, and creating safe and protective learning environments where children are protected from harm (the software) “will be ignored.”
Community Mobiliser Moses is to remain in the country for the duration of the programme and is working together with government ministries and the community to get the programmes off the ground.
Jacobs is quoted as being “pleased” to learn of the continued collaboration with the Education and Justice Ministries in early childhood development, child protection, improving the safety nets for youth via various training programmes and in assistance for the finalisation of the school safety guidelines.
Jacobs promised representatives to follow up with government on the discussed topics.
