Early Starts, Brighter Futures. 2014-2020

An initiative to bring early childhood learning closer to the communities that need it most.

Program

Early Childhood Development

Partner

Firelight foundation

Completed
The initiative

In many low-resource neighborhoods across Arusha, early childhood care is often overlooked. Parents are left on their own. Caregivers aren’t trained. And children begin their learning journey already behind. This campaign set out to change that.

With the support of the Firelight Foundation, Elimu launched an initiative to bring quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) services directly into communities — through better-trained teachers, supported caregivers, engaged parents, and improved learning spaces.

What we did

We didn’t just provide materials. We invested in the people at the heart of early learning.

Trained 32 ECD teachers and caregivers in child development and inclusive teaching
Reached 512 parents with awareness sessions on nutrition, nurturing, and early stimulation
Supported 15 community learners through local ECD training programs
Revitalized community centers with new learning corners, feeding programs, and play-based tools
Reached 2,347 children with better care, support, and early education access
Why this matters

Every child deserves a strong start — not just in school, but in life.
This campaign helped build that foundation by making sure caregivers had the skills, parents had the tools, and children had the chance to thrive before they ever set foot in a classroom.