Inspired by the belief that a child, like a young tree, grows strong with proper guidance, the people of John Village in Zomba Traditional Authority Ngwelero, took action. Faced with the problem of children walking long distances to the nearest childcare center. Village Head Lucy Chiwaya and local parents decided to build a solution close to home.
Their collective effort led to the creation of Chimwemwe Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre. The chief and parents gathered a team of 15 volunteers from the village. There are 10 women and 5 men serving as caregivers. This is an inclusive team, which includes a woman with disability. The center is expected to benefit about 100 children from six nearby villages.
To ensure the children's well-being, the center management committee launched a feeding program. They use their own contributions to give the children Thobwe, a healthy traditional drink.
YODEP understands that trained caregivers are vital for quality early education. With support from Masana wa Afrika, YODEP provided specialized training to the volunteers to build their skills.
Village Head Lucy Chiwaya believes the center will be a cradle for future leaders. "I hope to see kids from this center become doctors, nurses, or even a president from our village," she said.
While the center currently operates from a temporary shelter, the community's vision is firmly rooted. They have secured land and plan to construct a permanent structure laying a strong foundation for their children’s future.
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