Child Development Program

"Investing in Children to Transform Communities"

Why is a Children’s Ministry Important?

  • Half (50%) of the people on earth today are under the age of 18.
  • In most developing countries, half of the people are under the age of 15.
  • Children between the ages of 4 and 14 are one of the largest unreached people groups.
  • During the next 20 years, 4.5 to 5 billion children will be born.
  • If all the 5-11 year-olds held hands, they would go around the world three times.
  • Children are a gift from the God; they are important.
  • Children are often eager to learn and more open to change than adults.
  • Children can serve as models for their families and friends. They can demonstrate a healthier lifestyle.
  • A ministry with children can be a way to enter a community.
  • Children have unique needs:
    • There are over 3 million children with HIV/AIDS.
    • The number of AIDS orphans is growing rapidly.
    • There are more than 10 million children in the sex industry.
    • There are 200 to 300 million children involved in child labor.

Children can become a vital part of a CHE ministry. A Children’s CHE ministry can be an effective way to enter a new community. Working with the health committee and with adult CHEs, they can learn to share health skills with their friends and neighbors. Children can be involved in community projects.

Applying CHE Principles to Children:

  • Children should be taught in an integral matter, combining practical health, hygiene, first aid, gardening and moral values teaching.
  • The training should be interactive, with many stories, dramas, puppet shows, and games. The children will develop new skills and abilities, as well as the ability to solve problems.
  • The children will first apply what they have learned in their own lives and in their homes. They can work on practical ways to improve their own homes.
  • The new knowledge and skills of the children will multiply as they talk with their family and show their friends and neighbors what they have learned.
  • The children can work on community projects, using their own resources and skills.
  • For example they can help paint the school, build a neighborhood park, or work on an anti-littering campaign.
  • Learning is by self-discovery, not rote learning.

CDP = Child Development Program:

This program is aimed to educate the children in physical topics such as:

  • personal and community hygiene;
  • importance of wearing footwear,
  • washing hands,
  • preventing diarrhea,
  • importance of clean water,
  • caring for eyes and teeth,
  • nutrition etc.;

We are teaching the children different games, stories and songs etc.