At the heart of the WISE project is the mission to promote women’s economic stability while ensuring their children directly benefit from this progress. However, this goal becomes challenging if women juggle work with childcare responsibilities. The project established safe centers for children across participating communities to address this. These centers offer women the time and focus needed for their businesses and farming activities, while appointed caregivers look after their children.
Since their inception, some of these safe spaces have evolved beyond their original purpose, while others have faced challenges. This recent visit aimed to assess the current state of the centers, engage with caregivers, and observe how community-based volunteers (CBVs) manage their operations. Seeing that many of these spaces have transformed into early childhood education centers, helping prepare children for a smooth transition into basic schools with support from caregivers and CBVs was heartening.
“We had over fifty children here last year,” shared Ahmed Yusif, the Male Champion and CBV for the Waribogu Community. “As they grew, we graduated some who were ready for basic school, thanks to what they learned here. However, some parents who cannot afford formal schooling still bring their children here.”
The WISE Project Manager, Madam Theodora Asare, who led the team from Plan International, inquired about the centers’ needs and the role of parents in their upkeep. She encouraged caregivers and CBVs to engage parents, particularly in maintaining the facilities.
Despite the project’s conclusion, efforts are underway to ensure the sustainability of the safe spaces and other project components. While some centers are no longer operational, measures are being taken to support those that remain active. Community-provided structures serving as safe spaces will be renovated to enhance comfort and functionality for children and caregivers. Additional learning materials and furniture will also be supplied to bolster the centers’ effectiveness.