I found it a pleasure to see those children having the opportunity to learn, play, express their feelings, and participate in different activities as the others do," says Samar Wahba, UNV Education Specialist with UNICEF Egypt. Samar monitors and evaluates an early childhood development project designed to increase kindergarten and school enrollment and improve the quality of education.
As an Education Specialist assigned to UNICEF Egypt, UN Volunteer Samar Wahba spends her days in the Upper Egypt governorates of Assiut, Sohag, and Qena. There, she monitors and evaluates an early childhood development project designed to increase the kindergarten and school enrollment of four- to six-year-olds by improving the quality of education in these poor areas.
The project began in 2007 and includes among its partners Egypts Ministries of Education and Social Solidarity, research institutes, the private sector and UNICEF in Upper Egypt.
Drawing on her experience in the field of education and international curriculum, Samar ensures the children in this area are able to learn through the same modern education tools as those practiced in Egypts major city, Cairo.
Samar assesses the trainings given to and implemented by the teachers. She also writes funding proposals for needed project activities as well as making recommendations for the future.
Samar attributes the strengthening of the relationship between the Government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as a direct result of the project. She also credits the project for improvement in the tie between the NGO administrations and the parents, which has become more coherent and effective.
I found it a pleasure to see those children having the opportunity to learn, play, express their feelings, and participate in different activities as the others do. To watch the teachers while interacting with love and tenderness with the kids in the class was a great experience.