As part of the cooperation with Plan, Kemira supports the early childhood care and development project in Bolivia. The project works in 332 communities in 14 municipalities. More than 25 000 people, including children, teachers, community mentors, public health nurses and nannies, have participated in the project.

The growth, health and nutrition of the children is monitored as part of the early childhood development project.

The project activities include home visits, family workshops, play fairs and group sessions. Trained personnel also monitor the growth and psychosocial development, health and nutrition of the children. Good hygiene practices such as washing hands are taught in the nurseries and the importance of good sanitation is also stressed to the parents.

Mothers and fathers of the children have said that they had seen changes in their children and that the children have learnt and developed new skills and their developmental levels had improved overall.

Children participating in the project in San Miguelito del Sur.

“The early childhood care and development project is one of the core projects of Plan Bolivia and has been a great success story for Plan Bolivia” says Mari Luosujärvi, Plan Finland’s programme manager for Latin America. “By using the cultural richness of the communities and the positive traditional manners, the project has been able to raise people’s awareness of the importance of early childhood development” she notes.

The municipal executive boards have engaged to the project by granting resources to nurseries and preschools and creating new playgrounds. The project has also been active on a national level and for example some materials developed within the project are now being used by state authorities.

Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) projects are one of Plan’s expertise areas, and Plan has ECCD projects in several of its country offices.

Water is one of the most important vital conditions for life and clean water a precondition for survival. Support for projects that develop potable water supply and increase hygiene is a natural continuation to Kemira’s international work as a leading water chemistry company.