When we first opened our doors in 2002, Give Children A Choice established a range of key guiding principles that we stand by today.
- Collaboration – Work side-by-side with government staff at all levels to ensure buy-in, support and compliance as well as dealing with potential issues. Work with other NGOs and organizations to deliver holistic solutions.
- Cultural Sensitivity – We are the country’s guest and respect the local process, where it makes sense.
- Effectiveness – We are credited with pioneering rural village preschool education, tens years before becoming a ministerial education priority. Preschool graduates are found to perform better in primary school.
- Efficiency – Efficient use of donor funds without sacrificing construction quality.
- Empowerment – Our schools serve as models for the Provincial Education and Sports Department to promote to larger NGOs with the ability to build many more preschools.
- Experiential – Donors and partners are invited to participate in all aspects of the planning and construction process from village selection to the celebratory preschool handover.
- Holistic – As much focus is placed on what occurs inside the preschool as the structure itself. Our programs provide the school, teachers’ salaries, desks, storage cabinets, school supplies and books, electricity and running water, bathrooms.
- Inclusiveness – Children from all ethnic groups attend our preschools. (In fact, ethnic children benefit the most by learning the national language before attending primary school.)
- Participation and Ownership – Villager leaders are asked to donate 10% of the preschool construction costs in-kind. Sweat equity ensures a school is maintained.
- Partnership Leverage – Leverage partner offerings that benefit the children, e.g., health, hygiene and nutrition support, vitamins, handwashing programs, school supplies, books.
- Sustainability – Preschools are handed over to the government school system.
- Transparency – Donors are able to see exactly where and how their funds are used.