We are happy to introduce a new project to you.
The new project is the Gily’s Daycare and Learning Center in Arusha, Tanzania. This kindergarten with an attached preschool was founded in 2019 by Gilbert Lasway and is one of the projects of the Gily’s Children Foundation. Gilbert is a teacher by profession and works as a coordinator at a college in Arusha. He devotes his free time entirely to his hobby: the Daycare and Learning Center.
In the Daycare and Learning Center, children between the ages of 9 months and 6 years are looked after. The facility is aimed specifically at families from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. The parents or guardians of the children pay a minimum monthly contribution to the facility in order to ensure care and meals, so children whose families cannot afford the contributions at all can come for free. The majority of families cannot afford the monthly contribution, and very few parents pay the monthly contribution.
While their children are being looked after, parents have the opportunity to work or study. There are no public childcare facilities in Tanzania for children under the age of 6. Many parents are therefore forced to leave their children alone or with neighbors while they are working or trying to find work. In the worst case, children run the risk of being brought to orphanages by their desperate families for lack of other perspectives, which the family hopes will improve the future prospects for the children. However, such a separation should be avoided at all costs, since it can result in long-term damage for the children such as attachment and anxiety issues.
When the corona pandemic started, we became aware of the center for the first time. Step Africa, a volunteer organization located in Arusha and we are working with, called for support during this phase. During the first wave of the pandemic we helped to support some families in need with our corona aid package.
Before 2020 came to an end, we were finally able to expand the support of the center in a long term. In cooperation with volunteers and Kira from Step Africa, we were able to integrate Gily’s into our existing sponsorship program.A sponsorship ensures that the monthly running costs for the center can be covered and the children can be looked after in the day-care center. If the children are old enough and ready for school, they will go to a nearby public school and then they have the opportunity to come to the center for homework help in the afternoon.
The sponsorship fee for the children at Gily’s is 25€ per month. This amount covers all meals, care, child-friendly preschool lessons and health insurance. In addition, the children receive a starter package consisting of a school backpack, a pen folder and a school uniform (older preschool children only).
Are you interested in a sponsorship? Then feel free to contact us by email or via Facebook or Instagram.We look forward to hearing from you!
