Manager sought for new African children's centre
Katy Morton
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
A UK charity building the first-ever children's centre in Malawi is looking for a volunteer manager to take over the setting.
Last year Nursery World reported that the Krizevac Project was seeking UK volunteers to train Malawian childcare workers for a new children's centre (News, 7 April 2010).
Dr Marian Pearson, an EYP lecturer, and David Meechan, an experienced KS1 teacher and childcare worker, answered the appeal and developed and delivered a training programme to 125 students, 75 of which were chosen to go on to the intermediate level.
The charity is now appealing for an experienced children's centre manager to take over the running of the setting for a period of six to 12 months. The all-expenses-paid position would start as soon as possible.
As part of the role, the centre manager will devise staffing ratios and rotas, recruit a children's centre team, work with local groups and volunteers and train a permanent manager to take over the running of the centre
George Furnival, the Krizevac Project's UK co-ordinator, said, 'The volunteer centre manager will have a real chance to make a positive and vital difference to the families of Chilomoni. But we hope that they will not only make a difference to others but also to themselves. They will work with a brilliant and dedicated team of local staff and fellow ex-patriate volunteers, all determined to make this children's centre one of the best in the world.'
Practitioners with a minimum of NVQ3 and at least five years' post-qualifying experience are also being sought to work as room leaders for six-month placements.
Sue Overton, winner of Nursery World's Trainer of the Year Award 2008, will be joining the charity's team of volunteers this summer to help with the start-up of the Chilomoni Children's centre, which is currently under construction and due for completion in September.
The centre will provide care for 250 children, enabling parents to train and work in the charitable social enterprise that sits alongside the centre. Early years services will include under-fives health care, family support and outreach services.
The Krizevac Project is also appealing for good-quality furniture, toys, outdoor play equipment and furniture to equip the Chilomoni children's centre.
Children's centre managers or childcare practitioners who want to find out more should contact George Furnival on 0845 0036004 or e-mail george.furnival@krizevac.org.
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