Most children in Kibera, the largest informal settlement in Africa, do not start their education at the required age. This is majorly attributed to low-income levels in their families, whereby parents earn about $2 a day from casual jobs, forcing parents to prioritize educating elder siblings at the expense of the young ones. This locks them out from getting the much-needed foundational learning, sometimes ending up on the streets, and exposing themselves to social vices that exist in the slum.

Joseph, now a Grade 1 student at 9 years old, delayed beginning his education. He joined at 7 years instead of the required 3 or 4 years. Joseph is the fourth of five children in his family, and he lives with both parents. Being one of the youngest in his family, Joseph’s parents saw it fit to prioritise the education of his three older siblings, therefore leaving him no choice but to stay back home and hopefully wait for his turn to begin school. 

In 2022, Joseph got the opportunity to join Turning Point’s ECDE Centre, where he learned how to hold a pen and write his name. Despite his age and height difference from the other children, Joseph was not discouraged at all. He completed the Pre-Primary 1 class and moved up to Pre-Primary 2. In 2023, he graduated to Grade 1 after completing his early childhood development education.

Through the foundational knowledge that they acquire at the Centre, children will be prepared to join and complete primary school and eventually achieve their full potential, becoming agents of change in their community and breaking the cycle of poverty.

With a donation of £425, you can entirely support a child's Early Childhood Education for a year, or cater for learning resources such as age-appropriate storybooks, Art and Craft materials, exams and assessments and other literacy tools for a child with a donation of £30 per year.