Monitoring of ‘Kayang-Kaya Para Sa Bata Upskilling Program for Child Development Workers’ in Baras, Rizal 

 

AS we celebrate Women’s Month, I am reminded that women’s leadership does not only happen in boardrooms, public office or on big stages. Much of it happens quietly, every day, in homes, child development centers and classrooms, where young children first learn how to speak, listen, trust, behave and understand the world around them.

When we talk about women’s empowerment, we must also honor the nurturing work so many women do for children. For generations, women have carried much of the responsibility of raising the young—as mothers, grandmothers, teachers, child development workers and caregivers. Through their daily acts of care, children firstexperience love, safety, encouragement and guidance. These early experiences shape not only what children know, but also who they are becoming.

This is the spirit behind GenSPARKKY, Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc.’s (KCFI) campaign for the holistic development of young children through everyday acts of nurturing: Sing, Play, Ask, Read, Kain, Kalusugan and Yakap. These may seem like simple daily routines, but together they form a powerful framework for helping children grow and thrive.

When a mother sings with a child, she is not only building language and memory, but also joy, connection and confidence. When a teacher invites children to play, she is helping them develop creativity, self-expression, cooperation and resilience. When a caregiver encourages children to ask questions, she nurtures curiosity, listening and the confidence to speak up. When families read together, children build literacy while also learning empathy, attention and imagination. Shared meals teach not only nutrition, but also gratitude, conversation and belonging. Caring for a child’s health teaches discipline, responsibility and self-worth. And through yakap—through affection, reassurance and loving presence—children gain the emotional security they need to explore the world with courage.

In this way, GenSPARKKY supports much more than early academic readiness. It also helps build a growth mindset in children: the belief that they can learn, improve, try again and keep growing. A child who is gently encouraged after a mistake learns not to fear failure. A child who is lovingly guided through frustration begins to develop patience, self-regulation and perseverance.

GenSPARKKY also supports socio-emotional learning. In the safety of caring relationships, children begin to understand their feelings, manage their emotions, relate well with others and develop empathy. Just as important, they begin to absorb values such as love, respect, kindness, responsibility, discipline, gratitude and malasakit—not through lectures, but through the daily example of caring adults.

As we honor women this month, we must also say something equally important: nurturing should not rest on women alone. Fathers and other male caregivers must also be equal, active and loving partners in raising young children. When men sing, play, read, ask questions, prepare food, care for health and show affection, they do more than help mothers. They show children that care, tenderness, responsibility and learning are shared human values—not roles assigned only to women.

At KCFI, this belief guides our work. One example is “I Love You 1000: #BatangLaking1000,” an educational video series produced in partnership with the National Nutrition Council and the Department of Health. Focused on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, the series provides practical guidance for parents and caregivers on breastfeeding, immunization, proper nutrition and early stimulation.

Another example is “Kayang-Kaya Para Sa Bata: Certificate Program for the Upskilling of Child Development Workers,” a six-month training program that includes mentoring, coaching and multimedia learning materials. Many child development workers are women who serve young children faithfully despite limited resources. By helping strengthen their knowledge and practice, KCFI also strengthens the care and learning children receive in their earliest years.

As we celebrate National Women’s Month, let us honor women not only for what they achieve in public life, but also for the quiet, faithful, transformative work they do for children each day. And let us also build a culture of shared caregiving, where fathers and other male caregivers stand beside them as equal partners in nurturing the next generation.

National Women’s Month is a celebration, but it is also a call to action. Supporting women—at home, in classrooms and in child development centers—is one of the most concrete ways we can strengthen a child’s future. Join us in providing quality early childhood development to each Filipino child by supporting the Knowledge Channel Foundation through learning more about our programs and advocacies at knowledgechannel.org or donating through BPI Account No. 0201-040914 and sending your deposit slip to [email protected] for proper acknowledgment

Story By Rina Lopez