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Our Greatest Needs

We’re dreaming for the future.

Below are a few of our greatest needs as we look to scale our impact to meet the existing and growing needs of our community.

CHILDCARE CENTER

The Need

In Rwanda, like much of the world, mothers hold the burden of responsibility for looking after children before school-age. The challenge, therefore, is that when our employees come to work, there is often not a secure place for their young children to go.

In the absence of formal childcare services, mothers often resort to makeshift solutions. Many younger children are either left with neighbors or older siblings who should be in school themselves. Children ages 4 to 6 are typically left unsupervised altogether. This means that the children are often not receiving proper guidance, protection, nutrition, or engagement in other activities that are important for their development.

Older children are also impacted when they are forced to stay home from school to care for young siblings and cannot participate in their education. Mothers, burdened by the lack of support, find it difficult to balance work and family responsibilities. Their work, and even their ability to sustain employment, suffers from this distraction.

Currently, there are more than 50 children aged 6 and under whose mothers or primary caregivers work full-time on our campus.

The solution

Lack of access to childcare is problematic for breaking the poverty cycle for a couple of key reasons. First, research shows that women are more likely than men to be the primary caregivers of their children, and there is mounting evidence that such responsibilities can limit women’s economic opportunities. When they are required to fulfill caregiving responsibilities, it is difficult for them to also maintain work functions that can provide for the family financially.

Additionally, high-quality child care not only ensures a child’s immediate safety, but it also helps them develop tools and skills they will need for success in school and beyond. Lack of early childhood intervention can significantly impact future growth opportunities that contribute to long-term transformation within families.

The ASK

We are seeking funding to build a childcare facility and program for employees’ dependent children ages 0-6. This facility, managed by qualified childcare professionals, will offer a safe, nurturing physical environment for the young children of women under our employ. It will be built to initially accommodate 100 children.

The total project budget over two years, including facility buildout, materials, staffing and other operational expenses is $106,000.

Thanks to the generosity of our friends at The Sister Project, we have already raised $80,000 towards initial facility buildout and partial operational expenses.

We are seeking an additional $26,000 to cover budget shortfall.

Give today, and turn our dreams into reality.

Support our greatest needs, and together, we’ll disrupt the generational cycle of poverty for at-risk women in Rwanda.

Contact Us

Questions about how to contribute to the work of Handspun Hope? Email us, and a member of our staff will reach out as soon as possible.