We’re delighted to announce that Chance for Childhood has been selected as finalists for BOND’s Collaboration Award for our Inclusive Early Childhood Development (iECD) project in Rwanda!
BOND is a network of 435 UK organisations working in international development. The Collaboration Award “recognises effective relationships and collaborations… to tackle difficult issues”.
Our chosen project: iECD Project in Rwanda
This ground-breaking project developed the first-ever standardised disability screening tool in Rwanda to identify children with disabilities and those at risk of developmental delays, which informs decision-makers on service gaps and promotes early detection and preventive interventions.
In 2019, the Government of Rwanda rolled out the tool nationally.
In practical terms, the tools enable non-medical professionals to screen for and detect developmental delays and disabilities in children aged 0-3, 3-5 and 6-8. This process is not done in isolation, but actually fits into a referral pathway through existing health, education and social care services in Rwanda.
To date, the project has benefited a total of 3,788 individuals, including 3,650 children who have been identified to have a disability or developmental delay.
The collaboration between Chance for Childhood, UNICEF and the Government of Rwanda has proved hugely successful and also facilitated each party to capitalise on their strengths to bring about impactful change.
Georgina Awoonor-Gordon, Chance for Childhood’s Director of Programme Development, said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the BOND collaboration award and it is a testament to the hard work of our team in Rwanda. Inclusion is not an afterthought but rather one of the top priorities of the Government of Rwanda. Through this UNICEF-funded project, we have been enable to collaborate effectively with different actors who share a clear vision and strategy on inclusion, leading to targeted action and change.”
The results will be announced online on Monday 23rd March. Follow us on Twitter so you don’t miss it!
