SEEDs is an Early Childhood Development program conceptualized and implemented by the Jamati Institutions in the GCC. Fifty excited children attended the program, along with their parents. The SEEDs team organizes Khushiali events three times a year to inculcate in the children the sense of unity and community that arises from sharing happiness that is an important part of communal festivals. The July program was held to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Mawlana Hazar Imam and gave an opportunity for the children to participate in developmentally appropriate festivities. Children between the ages of 4 months to 36 months participated in different learning activities, some of which included tasbih-making, decorating cookies, and a collaborative art project.
“The SEEDs team endeavors to highlight the importance of early childhood education as laid down by Mawlana Hazar Imam. The program was a celebration of young minds coming together and celebrating Imamat Day with our team. It was another opportunity for all of us to engage and educate Jamat the importance of early childhood development (ECD) which parents equally appreciated,” explained Mr. Anil Fazwani, of Education Portfolio. This was an opportunity for the children and their parents to come together during their joyous occasion and create wonderful memories together as a family. “It was a well thought out program featuring a variety of activities to suit the different interests of a wide range of ages. The inherent concepts and learning in each of these activities (e.g. decorate your own piggy bank to save money and then allocate dasond; making tasbih to call the name of Allah; and coming together to paint a canvas to reflect the community) embody various concepts in our Tariqah. The program was refreshing and the dandia raas at the end showed rejoicing and love of Mawla. Thank you to the team for their efforts. Given that my son is on the cusp of turning 2 years old, I think the activities may have provided a subconscious memory that will help him relate [to the community] in the future, given that 85% of learning occurs by the age of 5,” said Zarah Alidina, mother of Keydan Nurani, who shared her thoughts on the program.
“I love my saving box. I will open it after its full then I will give Nazrana to Mawlana Hazar Imam and then I will use my coins in Fun City,” mused Inayah Lakhani, all of 30 months old, who attended the program. Through these kinds of engagements, the younger generation is imbibing a sense of community, which will provide strong foundations for the future to uphold values and traditions that are central to our faith.
