Education
Planned and Current Programs
1. Kivule Integrated Child Health and Education Programme (KICHEP).
KICHEP is an integrated child development programme that targets poor and marginalized children from zero to six years and their mothers. The aim of the programme is to promote the health and nutrition of women and young children in Kivule, and increase access to quality pre-school education to ensure that all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential. The objectives of the programme includes among other things advocating for children’s rights, mobilizing community members to participate in early childhood development through village door-to-door campaigns, providing information to mothers and parents in health and early childhood development ( ECD), mobilizing resources and building networks to strengthen support of the programme. Currently the program runs Panda Early Childhood Development Center located at Magole in Kivule ward.
2. Vocation Training Center (Ujuzi Hub).
Livelihood education for out of school youth, adolescent, girls and young women is provided through community programs conducted at the Ujuzi Hub Training center at the PANDA Initiatives headquarters. To enable youth and women to acquire skills necessary to enable them to start income generating activities, the center provided training on various vocation skills like tailoring, soap making, embroidery, cloth making (Batik), candle manufacturing, agri-business and food processing , waste recycling, computer skills and also link to other skills like carpentry, auto mechanics etc. This program are integrated with life skills education and HIV/AIDS prevention programs.
3. Community Outreach Programs.
The organization also conducts community outreach programs aimed at mobilizing the community to take part in activities that will bring their own development. The outreach program also includes sensitization and advocacy campaigns on importance of nutrition, environmental cleanliness, water hygiene and sanitation and addressing unfavorable social norms that affects women and girls’ rights.