YMCA Auckland is gearing up for the opening of their new Early Learning Centre for the Papakura community on Monday. The centre is based in Mansell Senior School and has received an official license for providing childhood services from the Ministry of Education.
Christine Walter, YMCA Executive Director of Recreation, places YMCA’s exciting initiative within the wider spectrum of community-based Early Childhood Education (ECE) that YMCA provides throughout Auckland.
“The Ministry of Education has been focusing on developing areas with low participation in Early Childhood services,” says Christine. “The Ministry has built first-rate Early Learning Centres throughout these developing areas, and has tendered the facilities to community organisations. We felt that YMCA Auckland, committed to community engagement and Early Childhood investment, would be an ideal partner in seeking to create a brighter future for Papakura’s children.”
With a strong track-record in early learning, YMCA Auckland won the Ministry’s tender to develop a centre in Papakura. The elegant and purpose-built centre is located at the Mansell Senior School and intends to cater for 50 young children around the community.
“YMCA has put in considerable investment – to the tune of over $100,000 – to grow the centre into a world-class facility, yet with a friendly neighbourhood intimacy,” says Christine.
The Papakura centre is part of YMCA’s wider early childhood education initiatives across Auckland. “Three active Early Childhood centres have already been established around Auckland, with another one in the works,” notes Christine. “Currently we have around 170 children who participate in our programmes throughout Auckland.”
Christine comments on the holistic approach YMCA take in addressing the needs of the community’s children. “We collaborate with parents, caregivers and family/whanau to understand each child and the community in general. Our centres are a focal point for bringing together members of the community from different ethnic, linguistic and social-cultural backgrounds. The Papakura centre is a case-in-point of how we want to celebrate diversity to its full extent. This approach is what makes our centres so special and community-oriented.”
“YMCA is committed to proactive community development,” says Peter Fergusson, CEO of YMCA Auckland. “The Papakura community, which faces numerous challenges, has traditionally been over-looked and under-engaged in terms of participation. Yet it is an area brimming with potential. YMCA’s new Early Learning Centre in Papakura will be driven to provide quality education in a warm, family-friendly environment. Our vibrant centre is intended to harness the community’s potential and be a stimulus for wider development, active engagement, and a sense of belonging for everyone within this bustling centre.”
YMCA is particularly interested in strengthening its engagement with the cultural aspect of local communities. “We have specifically been approaching Maori and Pacifica members of the Papakura community, inviting them to join us in this exciting and enlivening partnership,” notes Christine.
“We want a centre that reflects the values of the local area,” says Christine. “We want a centre where people feel welcomed. Most importantly, we want a centre where the community can feel a sense of belonging. YMCA’s Papakura Early Learning Centre ticks all of those boxes. We will work closely with the local marae, and community networks in order to design the centre as a buzzing hub that embraces the community’s local heritage and culture and will reflect this in our centre.
Christine articulates YMCA’s passion for early childhood education. “We are an organisation that is here for everyone, no matter what age. Each and every member of our community needs to be looked after and engaged with. We strongly believe that Early Childhood is the first stepping stone in creating a lifelong belonging to a local community centre, imbued with feelings of unity, community spirit, and dedication to creating warmth and vibrancy for the next generation.”
Source: http://auckland.scoop.co.nz/2011/11/a-whanau-friendly-childhood-centre-ymca/