The objectives of this year’s activities were to equip parents and caregivers with early stimulation to make them aware of the safety and conducive learning environment needed for the holistic development of children; to provide children with playing materials; to create awareness among line Ministries and NGOs on the rights of children to be in ECCD programmes; to sensitize stakeholders such as line Ministries on the importance of Early Childhood Care and Development; and to create awareness within communities about the relevance of EFA goal 1.

Activities in this year’s GAW commenced with a tour to some of the disadvantaged home-based ECCD centres located at Thetsane, an outskirt of Maseru city located near the Chinese factories where the majority of young mothers are employed. The purpose of the tour was to disseminate the message of the EFA GAW and to remind ECCD providers about the rights of the children with regard to education. Above all, the ECCD Department wanted to create awareness on the conditions under which those home-based centres operate.

The major celebration of the GAW took place in Quthing, a district having low overall enrolments of ECCD learners and inhabiting several ethnic minority groups. These groups are often marginalized when it comes to equitable access to education; as a consequence of Sesotho and English being the media of instruction, while not considering the mother tongue, a factor which may also have an implication on low enrolments.

The banners, posters and placards carrying messages of the day formed part of publicity while participants marched joyously in the cold weather. Children happily posed in front of the cameras, this also formed part of the entertainment; especially for children in the rural district.
Master of ceremonies was the Senior Education Officer in the Quthing district, Mr. R. Tau. Key speakers on this occasion included the District Administrator, the Chief Education Officer responsible for basic education, representatives of various teachers’ formations and school learners. As per usual procedure, the message of the Director General of UNESCO was read and interpreted in Sesotho by the Secretary General of Lesotho National Commission for UNESCO.

UNESCO Windhoek Office supported this event. The banners and poster served to deliver UNESCO’s key messages on this occasion to stakeholders and the community at large. Children also expressed themselves through drawings, thereby also depicting UNESCO’s messages on this occasion.