Cindy Europe from Region Five plans to open a night-care service. She is one of 50 individuals—comprising one male and 49 females—who graduated from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Early Childhood Development Course last Friday.
The graduates, who hail from Regions Two to Ten, completed a comprehensive programme focused on understanding early childhood development, fostering positive developmental outcomes, and implementing age-appropriate stimulation techniques for children who are below one to three years.
“I’m really happy I finished the course, even though it was tough. I was between jobs while studying, but it taught me that you have to work hard to get what you want. I’m going to use the grant to start my own night-care service. There are lots of daycares, but not many places that offer childcare at night,” she said.
The graduation ceremony, held at the ministry’s head office, also marked the launch of the inaugural “home-based care” initiative.
Under this initiative, each graduate received a $100,000 grant, amounting to a total ministerial investment of $5 million, to establish independent home-based childcare services.
This initiative aims to expand access to quality early childhood care within community settings.
Notably, once these individuals establish their home-based care services, officers from the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) will conduct monthly home visits to carry out necessary inspections.
Several other graduates expressed gratitude to the ministry for providing them with the opportunity to upskill themselves and access the resources needed to launch their own businesses.
Among them was Cianna Persaud, a mother.
“It is a pleasure to be part of any initiative that establishes a strong foundation for children. As a mother of three, this is particularly important to me.
The $100,000 grant provided by the Ministry of Human Services will be a valuable start for many of us who wish to open our own day and night-care centres,” Persaud said.
For Gory Charles, another graduate, the opportunity to help other young mothers like herself is invaluable.
The journey was not easy for Charles, but she was committed to completing the programme.
“The course presented some challenges. There were days when I felt like quitting and was brought to tears. Balancing the demands of being a mother of four made it particularly difficult. However, the programme also contributed to my personal growth as a parent. It helped me better understand my children, their developmental stages, and their learning styles.
“This programme will enable me to establish a night-care service. Since I work during the day, a night-care facility will allow me to provide crucial support to young mothers working night shifts,” she explained.
Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, congratulated all the graduates and encouraged them to continue striving for upward mobility.
“Don’t stop here,” she urged. “Continue investing in your academic journey, and you will build lives that are deeply meaningful to yourselves while creating lasting positive change within your communities.”
The Early Childhood Development Course is designed to equip participants with the skills necessary to provide quality care and stimulation to young children, contributing to their healthy development.
