INTRODUCTION
The Community Childcare Project (Alimosho LGA Edition) is a project organize by the NECCS Initiative and supported by World Connect, World Forum Foundation, and Icarella C.S Ltd.
Icarella Childcare Services Ltd serves as the secretariat for the Community Childcare Project. As a project of the Nurturing Early Childhood Community Support (NECCS) Initiative, Community Childcare Project is an initiative that inspires, empowers, and connects early years childcare professionals and parents in vulnerable communities. The project focuses on sustainable social development by addressing the critical need for quality childcare for children aged birth to three years old.
The Community Childcare Project is an innovative initiative designed to significantly enhance early childhood care services in the densely populated and economically challenged areas of Lagos State, Nigeria. The project focused on sustainable social development 4.2 by addressing the critical need for quality childcare for children aged birth to three years old. Our Mission was to empower caregivers and childcare providers in Alimosho LGA by providing training, resources, and advocacy to ensure high-quality, affordable childcare experiences for all children in the community from birth to three years old. Activities include:
- Capacity building for childcare professionals
- Childcare Business Support
- Support Network for parents and caregivers
- Research; and
- Community Engagement
The first phase of the project assessed the potential for the significant impact that improvement on childcare practices can have on Agbado Oke-Odo and Mosan Okunola LCDAs of Alimosho LGA. The objectives of the Community Childcare Project were successfully met and the project was able to Impact 21 childcare facilities, training a total 54 home-based and center-based childcare providers and engaging over 330 parents directly using the Nurturing Care Framework in child development, health, safety, responsive caregiving, and childcare business management. The project conducted several advocacy campaigns in the selected communities through 7 childcare facilities to raise awareness about the importance of quality childcare.