Breaking Barriers - a Man's Dedication to Early Childhood Development

One afternoon, in the calm breeze of Ondangwa, Namibia, I was fortunate to be part of a Development Workshop Namibia training event. The room was bustling with enthusiastic educarers eager to improve their skills. Among them stood Mr Johannes Kashuna – a rare sight in a field predominantly occupied by women. Educarers are early childhood educators and caregivers who work in kindergarten and childcare settings. They create learning environments that promote growth and development in young children. It is a field that traditionally attracts more females than males, reflecting the nurturing and empathetic qualities often associated with women in caregiving roles. Intrigued by Johannes’ presence, I felt compelled to learn more about his journey into early childhood education.

My curiosity led me to Uupopo Preschool and Day Care. It was there that I had the privilege of stepping into Johannes Kashuna’s classroom – a space alive with the energy of young minds at play.

Johannes’ story begins with a childhood filled with affection and a natural affinity for nurturing. “My parents observed my love for children and saw that I was caring and loving towards them,” he recalls with a smile. With the encouragement of his parents, and especially his father’s belief that he belonged with children, a seed of his lifelong calling was planted. “My father encouraged me to build an ECD centre. He believed that I belonged with the children,” explains Johannes. The backing Johannes received from his family paved the way for a transformative journey, impacting not only his own life but also the lives of the numerous young children that have passed through his classroom over the years.

Since 1999, Johannes has been a cornerstone of early childhood development in his community. “Being an ECD teacher is not just a job for income; it is a gift and a calling,” he emphasises. His pride and joy in his work are palpable as he recounts moments spent nurturing and guiding the children under his care. His dedication to creating a supportive and enriching environment for children stems from the genuine affection and sense of purpose he feels around them. However, while Johannes has a passion for working with children, like too many other educarers in Namibia, he still lacks training and support.

Driven by his desire to provide quality education and care to the children under his guidance, Johannes eagerly attended the ECD teacher training workshop organised by the Development Workshop Namibia. The workshops aimed to equip him and his peers with the necessary skills to create an engaging and effective learning environment for children aged 0-6 years, with a focus on play-based and child-centred methodologies. “I wanted to gain and increase my understanding of early childhood development and why children learn through play,” he enthuses, going on to explain, “The workshops provided me with new and exciting knowledge that I never got to learn before, like making educational tools from recycled materials and handcrafted items while enriching the learning experiences for the children.”

“I learned to make exciting materials for the children so that they have fun experiences in the classroom while learning pre-maths, language development, music and movement,” he explains, emphasising the newfound ways of teaching that have made learning enjoyable for his students.

Johannes emphasises the value of male representation in ECD centres. “Boys also need role models. They need to see that it’s okay to nurture and care, that it’s not just a woman’s job. It is okay for a man to be a teacher for young children. A man can also be a kindergarten teacher,” he adds.

Development Workshop Namibia’s ECD programme has been instrumental in helping educarers like Johannes to foster a caring and engaging environment for children aged 0-6. Through teacher training, parent support and improvements to ECD centres, the initiative helps enhance early education in the informal communities of Namibia.

Johannes Kashuna demonstrates the potential for other male educarers in the field of early childhood development. His dedication and impact underscore the vital role that male figures can play in nurturing young minds during their formative years. His inspirational journey is breaking stereotypes and showcasing the invaluable contributions of male educarers in ECD centres in Namibia.

Magano Frietya

For more information into the work carried out by Development Workshop Namibia, explore our website at dw-namibia.org or simply scan the QR code provided.