Home-based childcare providers in Murang'a have been trained as champions to improve the quality of care offered to young children in their communities. The training, conducted under the Provider Champion Model, brings together childcare providers and mentors from all nine subcounties. This model aims to enable caregivers to support and mentor one another, ensuring they continue receiving guidance and applying proper childcare practices.
The initiative, implemented through the NurtureFirst programme in partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Murang'a, has been training providers on child protection, safeguarding, and quality standards over the past two years. The programme prepares to exit, and the Provider Champion Model will ensure the knowledge and systems established during its implementation are maintained. Mentors will continue to guide the champions, creating a network of trained caregivers who can offer peer support.
Caroline Nduta, a mentor from Kandara, emphasized the importance of sustainability in the project. She stated that the goal is to roll out provider champions who will continue supporting other providers, ensuring the project's continuity even after the programme exits. The approach is particularly crucial in a sector where many caregivers operate within communities with limited access to formal training or professional support.
A 2024 mapping exercise identified 1,268 home-based childcare providers in Murang'a caring for about 6,700 children. Nationally, more than 1.6 million children are estimated to be cared for in home-based childcare settings by close to 300,000 providers. The training aims to prepare caregivers to take greater responsibility for supporting their peers.
Mercy Wangari, one of the providers trained as a champion, noted that the programme has equipped caregivers with knowledge they can pass on to others in their communities. The trained caregivers are ready to take over and provide better care than before. Laban Mwangi, a mentor from Gatanga subcounty, urged parents to take their children to trained home-based childcare providers.
Eva Wangari, a master trainer with the Catholic Diocese of Murang'a, explained that the new model allows providers to extend the support they received to other caregivers. She urged organisations and stakeholders working with children to develop programmes and systems that support home-based childcare providers. This will enable them to continue offering nurturing care.
With the NurtureFirst programme preparing to exit, the Provider Champion Model is expected to help sustain the support system and preserve the gains made in improving home-based childcare in Murang'a. The model will create a lasting impact, ensuring that caregivers continue to receive guidance and support, ultimately benefiting the children in their care.
Key points
- The Provider Champion Model aims to create a network of trained caregivers who can offer peer support beyond formal training sessions.
- The programme has equipped caregivers with knowledge on child protection, safeguarding, and quality standards.
- The initiative is expected to sustain the support system and preserve gains made in improving home-based childcare in Murang'a.
