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Who We Are

An organization built on respect and community, Kaya ChildCare provides quality early childhood education to the children of Kayayei in Accra because we believe every child, irrespective of their background deserves a good foundation for education. We work hand-in-hand with the Kayayoo mother in her effort to raise a child while living on less than USD 1 a day in urban poverty.

We provide a safe space for the child away from the busy market where the mother works, to allow the mother to have the peace-of-mind to grow her business.

We provide adequate early childhood education to get the child school-ready using a customized blended curriculum that incorporates learning-through-play.

Why We Exist

Addressing SDG Target 4.2: “By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education”

Kaya Childcare exists to stop the cycle of poverty by ensuring the child does not miss out on their development during the most critical early years of their life. 80% of life’s learning is acquired by age 8, and the first 3 years has a profound impact on the capacity of that child to succeed during further formal education, and later in life. While in this profession with its associated struggles, the foundational development for the Kayayoo’s young child is left to chance in these critical years.

We exist to ensure the Kayayoo’s child has equal access to education and a productive life in adulthood.

What We Do

Learning & Development

It’s simple, children learn when they play!

​Learning-through play is not a new concept. It’s recognized by child-focused organizations worldwide as the best way for children to naturally develop. We recognize is too!

Our use of this model is in three ways:

1. We make our own toys, so that the children and their mothers can make their own toys.

2. We create (and constantly evaluate) curriculums around this method of child development. Curriculums that are customized to fit the lives and experiences of our target group.

3. We are constantly collecting data and researching on what the ideal model for early childhood development through play looks like for underpriviledged single mothers who live in slums.

Nutrition & Health

Our aim with nutrition and health is to supplement the mother’s efforts. We also ensure to keep records and collect important cognitive, health, and nutrition data needed to keep track of the child’s holistic development.

​The children at the center receive a full lunch meal and snacks each day. This is to ensure that during the time in our care, we supplement the diet they receive at home. Breast-feeding mothers are encouraged to come in at several points in the day to feed their babies.

A baseline health record is set for all kids at the center; and a general health screening is conducted half yearly to keep records updated. Interim attention is given to kids to note and address any health or developmental gaps which may arise.

​All center team members are trained in first aid, and review the first aid and emergency response policies quarterly.

Research

In setting up Kaya ChildCare, we are augmenting the efforts of the hardworking kayayoo mother in providing for her child’s development in the critical formative years of the child’s life, to change their default end from being a life on the street.

We do this through an early childhood development center setup for the Kayayoo’s child’s needs. The center is designed to run to fit the schedule and life of the Kayayoo mother. We also take the opportunity to augment the diet of the children in our care with two snacks and one meal a day.

Learning and development is by a learning-through-play model; creating toys from local recyclable materials; and working with volunteers and other child-focused expert organizations to ensure the Kayayoo’s child also gets a fair chance for an optimum early childhood development.

​The center currently opens at 7:30AM on weekdays, Monday through Friday. One day per quarter, we organize workshops and programs in health, hygiene, sanitation, and nutrition for the mothers.