Child Care Solutions

Why this program exists

Child Care Solutions addresses a critical gap faced by working parents in Tanzania's underserved communities: the absence of safe, affordable, and reliable child care options in the spaces where families live and work.

By establishing community-owned child care models in markets and other public spaces, WeCare enables parents — particularly mothers — to participate in economic activity with confidence, knowing their children are in a protected, nurturing environment nearby.

Program Activities

• Market-Space Child Care Centre Operations — establishment and operation of child care spaces within or adjacent to active market areas, where many low-income caregivers spend their working hours. Centres are purpose-designed to be safe, supervised, and appropriately stimulating for young children throughout the working day.
• Community-Owned Child Care Model — locally owned and governed structures where community members are trained, employed, and empowered to run and oversee the centres, creating shared ownership and accountability. This model ensures sustainability beyond WeCare’s direct presence.
• Safe Space Design & Setup — physical spaces selected, set up, and maintained to meet child safety and wellbeing standards. Includes appropriate fencing or boundaries, age-suitable materials and furniture, hygiene facilities, and clear protocols for drop-off, pick-up, and emergency response.
• Caregiver & Child Minder Training — community members employed as child minders receive structured training in basic early childhood care and development, child safeguarding, first aid, nutrition, and communication with parents. Ongoing supervision and refresher training are provided to maintain care quality.
• Child Protection & Safeguarding Protocols — clear child protection policies including safe entry and exit procedures, incident reporting systems, and codes of conduct for staff and volunteers. Protocols are developed in line with national child protection standards and communicated clearly to all involved.
• Parent Engagement & Feedback Mechanisms — regular check-ins with parents using the centre to gather feedback, monitor satisfaction, and address concerns. Parents are informed about their child’s day and any incidents or notable moments. Trust-building with the parent community is central to the program’s success.
• Economic Empowerment Linkages — Child Care Solutions is intentionally linked to the economic realities of the families it serves. By freeing parents — especially mothers — from the impossible choice between working and watching their children, it directly enables greater economic participation and household income generation.