The Don Reader Early Childhood Development Centre in Kavango West Region's Nkurenkuru is officially confirmed to meet the ECD standards of the Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare Ministry.

The centre was recently renovated to the tune of N$ 400,000, fully funded by the Namibia Teachers Union.

The Don Reader Ufenkenda ECD Centre was established in 2000 by Don Reader, a retired teacher from Canada, working under the British Colombia Teachers Federation, in collaboration with NANTU.

The centre is aimed at assisting orphans and vulnerable children with access to an early childhood development facility and also providing needy children with soup meals.

''I began to fundraise in the Vancouver area. The funds have come from individual teachers, schools, locals, and personal contributions. In fact, the last contribution came from a friend, a retired 100-year-old teacher, who gave me a N$2,000 Canadian check. The building was being used once the roof was on, as it was better than the shade Elizabeth had used.''

The centre was donated to NANTU in 2019.

NANTU then renovated the centre's infrastructure.

At present, it comprises two classrooms, each with the capacity to cater to 15 learners, as well as two sick bay rooms and a kitchen to facilitate the soup meals.

Acting President of NANTU, Daniel Humbu, says the centre creates a conducive learning environment that enhances quality teaching and learning.

''The centre will be in the care of Nantu after it was officially donated to Nantu by Uncle Don in 2019. Uncle Don, today we officially inform you that none to wholeheartedly accept to take care of the centre in December and continue to provide care to the needy children in Kavango West and also to provide quality early childhood education with the support and guidance from the Minister of gender equality and poverty eradication."

NANTU further intends to make food provisions, pay for municipal bills, and provide allowances to educate needy learners for a period of up to six months.

Working closely with Don Reader, local teacher Elizabeth Karuyeva says they started with their own capital and donations that they managed to get from community members. 

She appreciates the donors, she says, and calls on local entrepreneurs to donate food items to help the centre cater for more orphans and vulnerable children.

Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare Minister Doreen Sioka noted that the ministry adopted the Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy in 2007, at the same time as it endorsed the Namibian standards for ECD services.

She said greater stakeholder involvement would help elevate the quality of ECD centres, eventually resulting in standardisation.