Little Feet, Safe Spaces, High Hopes

Just imagine going out to work for the day, locking your door and leaving your 3 year old behind, outside and alone. It must be a tremendous worry but it is the reality for many parents in Africa.

When travelling in Rwanda we see many small children just wandering along the roads or playing in groups outside locked houses. These small children deserve care and protection, a place to feel safe whilst their parents are absent.

To try and alleviate the problem Tumba Parish Church in Rwanda have opened a nursery school which could accommodate at least 60 children, keeping them safe and fed. Sadly the fees are beyond the means of many who go out to work just to keep a roof over their head and food in their stomachs.

These expensive fees? The cost is approximately the equivalent of £1.75 per month! This pays for 5 days a week care with a hearty lunch (quite possibly the only meal the child will get that day), keeping them off the streets, safe and fed.

There are only 26 youngsters enrolled at Tumba nursery at the moment. We visited the nursery when we were in Africa in June and it was a joy to see the children playing safely and relishing their lunch. It broke our hearts however to see children outside looking in.

Which made us think (scary we know)! The cost of nursery care over 3 years for a child in Africa is £65, the same cost as a day’s nursery care in the UK. Could you consider keeping a child safe for 3 years for a one-off donation of £65, guaranteeing them the security of a place in a church led nursery school until they are able to go on to school? It really is great value for money!

What do you think? Could you?