There’s always a way

Early childhood is a critical time of life. 90% of a child’s brain develops by the age of five – but only when they grow up in safe, nurturing, and stimulating environments. Without quality childcare, young children face delays in cognitive, social, and emotional development. In the long-term it creates difficulties in learning, managing emotions, and building healthy relationships. Across East Africa, childcare remains out of reach for most families. Fewer than 1 in 10 children in Uganda aged 3–5 are enrolled in registered pre-primary schools. In Tanzania, 80% of children miss out from early learning. Formal childcare services are often too expensive, while informal options are inconsistent and sometimes unsafe. In low-income countries, childcare needs are widely regarded as a barrier to women’s employment. A new solution: Childcare as a microenterprise.

My mother made a small earning through tailoring jobs that she did from our house. There wasn’t much stability with her sole income. But she did manage to put my two older siblings through school. I, however, ended up dropping out after Senior 4. Growing up, one of my most vivid memories is watching my mother at her sewing machine. That’s where she was the happiest. Now at 30, this is where I too feel my happiest.

When the price of gas nearly doubled in her village in Rwanda, Umutoni faced a seemingly impossible challenge. How was she to feed her household of 13 family members? She realised she not only had 13 mouths to feed, but 13 minds to bring together to create a solution. Her husband, Vincent, is a mechanic. Her children are all studying science subjects. Umutoni herself is a university graduate who studied Physics. She sat her family down and explained the problem.