In Buhunda village, the rhythm of daily life is shaped by survival. For many families, farming is the backbone of their livelihood—but it comes at a cost to early childhood development.

One elder in the community shared:

“Childcare is usually done by older siblings. We go to the farm, and it’s very far—we can’t take the young ones with us. So we prepare porridge and leave the older children to feed and care for the younger ones. A five-year-old may look after a two-year-old. That child doesn’t go to school because we can’t farm and care for them at the same time. When he turns seven, we’ll enroll him in primary school. Most households do the same—it’s normal here.”

This story reflects a common reality: children missing out on early learning because they’re tasked with caregiving roles far beyond their age. TAHEA Mwanza works to shift this norm by promoting play-based learning, parenting support, and school readiness programs that give every child a fair start—regardless of their family’s economic situation.

👉 Action Step: Support TAHEA Mwanza’s Early Childhood programs by donating, volunteering, or partnering to expand access to safe spaces where young children can learn, play, and grow—while their families earn a living.