The Family Strengthening Program in Eldoret has moved into two new areas where many parents face hardships that prevent them from giving proper care to their children. In these areas, five Early Childhood Development Center in the local schools are in very bad condition and do not have washrooms or proper toilet facilities.

These inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene conditions affect the children’s ability to learn in several ways, including high risk of catching infections through dirty water and long-term exposure to chemical contaminants in water – which can lead to diarrheal diseases, malaria infections, and other infections, all of which force many children to be absent from school.

The conditions of the schools are additionally challenged as most of the classrooms at the Early Childhood Development Center do not have suitable desks, chairs, toys or learning materials. Conclusively, the inadequate facilities make it difficult for the centers to provide the children with the crucial quality care and education they need.

Early childhood is the most critical developmental stage in a child’s life. A child’s brain develops rapidly during the first six years of life, and good nutrition, healthcare, protection, play and early learning at this crucial stage are what set children on the path to the best future possible.

The access to support and care in a Early Childhood Development Center is especially important to the children living with at-risk families as parents who are struggling economically are often unaware of the importance of hygiene, play and early stimulation.

This lack of basic facilities in the five local Early Childhood Development Center can significantly reduce the children’s readiness for school and their opportunities later in life. This situation leaves vulnerable children even more vulnerable