Since 2017, PfC has cooperated with Ethiopian authorities on the establishment of day care centers for children aged 0-4 years.
To supply the day care centers with learning materials, PfC cooperates with the female-run company Lewet / Five Dots. Here, 8 part-time employees (women) at the company have been given full-time jobs, and in addition 5 new full-time employees have been hired (4 women / 1 man).
The women in the company used to earn their living by searching the city’s rubbish dumps for something to sell. This is a very risky job and gave minimal income.
It’s a privilege to use skilled, local partners such as Lewet in this work. In this way, the material can be designed in line with the children’s needs, and the women in the company are guaranteed production and employment.
The production of material has been made possible thanks to donations from the foundation “Et Rikere Liv”. Suitable machines have been purchased and 5 new products have been developed.
In addition, funds donated directly to PfC via the platform Shareitfair will be used for learning materials for the day cares. Via the Shareitfair-app, private individuals can give a gift directly to the organization(s) they wish to support. We are proud to be one of the organizations that, so far, has received the highest funds – which will be transferred directly to our projects.
Background:
Through our work with competence building and job creation for women, we have experienced that the lack of childcare is a major challenge. Many women cannot take part in educational programs, they must turn down job offers or are prevented from starting a business because they have no one to look after their youngest children. Investment in the social sector, including day care centers, is crucial to facilitating women’s participation in formal working life.
As a result of this, Partnership for Change started its biggest project in 2017: Establishment of day care centers for young children in Ethiopia.
Since the start in 2017, PfC has worked closely with the Ethiopian authorities, and with the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth as coordinator.
Project goals:
- Montessori-inspired day cares for as many children as possible aged 4 months. – 4 years (Ethiopia has 4 months maternity leave)
- Quality (building, equipment and education)
- Montessori-inspired education of tutors, assistants, and managers
- More women into formal working life
- Establishment of jobs in the day care sector
- Higher professional status and salary for trained day care personnel
- Improved equality
An expansion of the Ethiopian day care sector will undoubtedly have a broad and positive social effect. It will contribute to increased employment of women, and the children will receive adapted educational programs from an early age. In addition, the expansion of quality day cares will create thousands of jobs in the formal sector.
