MOCEP educates both mother and child

A baby’s best friend is its mother. As the baby grows, the relationship may either strengthen or weaken, according to circumstance. Childhood is the most important period in the life of both a child and its mother.

The MOCEP (Mother Child Home Education Programme) in Bahrain is dedicated to helping both mother and child build a strong base in order to help prepare them before the schooling period commences.
MOCEP is a 25-week compatible home intervention educational programme that provides mothers with a carefully planned schedule of daily lessons for teaching their children pre-readiness skills required before entry into primary school.
The programme originated in Turkey and came to Bahrain in 1999. This is the only non-government organisation in Bahrain that addresses the provision of early childhood enrichment and education in the home of poor and disadvantaged families.
“When mothers are empowered with the skills and education to foster successful growth and development with their children in their homes and at school, they can, through their self-initiative, begin to remove the oppressive stumbling blocks which compel disadvantage and poverty,” explained Dr Julie Hadeed, founder and director of MOCEP. The programme is supported by volunteers, health and welfare experts and professionals, as well as businesspeople and companies. Esterad, an investment company in the kingdom, has been an important supporter of the programme. 
“This is a very unique and special programme that would suit the needs of all communities. We are the only model collaboration of community involvement to support charity. We are entirely independent. We raise all the money required to support, educate and train our staff. The programme has been a success so far and we are planning to expand into Saudi Arabia, as well as to the UAE and Oman,” said Dr Hadeed.
MOCEP provides both a developmental child education component and a mother-educational training component. Research evidence shows that it is through the family context that the greatest potential for enriching the lives of the disadvantaged is realised.
Mothers are provided with a series of educational lecture topics in areas such as child discipline, behaviour problems, nutrition and health, safety, listening skills, child growth and development and family planning.
“It’s basically the mother who is the decision-maker,” Dr Hadeed added.

INFO FILE
You can e-mail Dr Hadeed on hadeed@batelco.com.bh, or call on 17292877. You can also log on to www.mocep-bahrain.com

Shilpa Chandran