Providing a nurturing and inclusive start (foundation) for vulnerable children

Little Rock ECD centre was started in order to intervene in Early childhood development for the OVC’s in Kibera slum and is raising the quality of early childhood education in kibera slums.Little rock began in 2003 when the government introduced free primary education in Kenya. The founder and other teachers found it impossible to carry on with their normal primary syllabus because these children had not attended any nursery schooling in an (ECD) centre. The desire to help these children was a burden to the founder and she decided to act on it. The centre began with a dream to help five OVC’s with the best ECE (early childhood Education)  foundation. The number of children who do not have access to ECE was so big that within three months we realized that reaching five children would not be realistic and so we enrolled 101 children within three months. The two children number 100 and 101 introduced us to the hush reality of children with disability. This changed the centre to an inclusive early childhood development centre. The centre is raising the quality of Early Childhood Education in Kibera slums.

Lilly was touched by the plight of children in Kibera following a visit there with a group of tourists.  She returned to volunteer as a primary school teacher in Kibera slum and quickly realized there was a gap and a great need to intervene during the most crucial formative years for the children ages 1-8 years ; to provide them appropriate early years education and supported development to prepare them for a smooth transition to primary school.  Such support provides the children with a solid start and they are better equipped to unwrap their potential and gain from the primary education system.
The centre currently caters for 500 children, 85 of whom are special need children all who attend the centre from Monday to Saturday.
The children are either

• Orphans, infected & affected by HIV and AIDS
• From extremely poor families especially single parent families
• Special need children (disabled, hearing impaired, cerebral palsy, down syndrome and mentally handicapped)

The children are taught and trained by qualified early childhood teachers and caregivers in a loving and nurturing environment where each child is valued, every child’s ability nurtured.  We also have the contribution of all parents who help with care giving, cleaning chores at the centre.
There is support to the children’s parents and guardians especially single mothers who are helped to gain skills and join an income generating initiative at the centre to help them earn an income to support their families.    The day care facility enables many single and HIV parents to return back to work and fend for their families.  Teenage mums are able to pursue their education and get a certificate of primary education and their younger siblings are released from baby sitting and home chores.

Ayany primary has requested us to feed them with more than 50 children every year. This is not possible due to lack of space and teachers. The centre is currently reaching over 400 children every day. The centre caters for five groups of children, Orphans, infected and affected by HIV, poor and special needs (deaf,
cerebral palsey, Down syndrome & mentally handicap).The sad fact is one cannot teach a hungry child or a sick child. These needs gave birth to the six different programs we have now. Inclusive Early childhood education, health intervention, occupational therapy, nutrition(feeding programme),library services, parent support groups, clubs(football, first Aid, guidance and counseling, sign language, music and movement, computer), day care andincome generating activities.

Lily, Director