With determination, community support, and targeted investment, an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre owner has transformed a small childcare initiative into a thriving learning environment, helping more children access quality early education while supporting working families.
When Ange, an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre owner, looked around her community in Kigali, she realized that many parents struggled to find safe and reliable care for their children while they went to work. Rather than waiting for someone else to address the challenge, she decided to take action.
Starting with her own determination and a loan of Rwf 800,000 (USD 546) from her husband, Ange established an ECD centre to support families in her neighbourhood.
“There were many parents who struggled to find care for their children while they went to work. I convinced them to bring their children to the ECD centre,” Ange says.
In 2023, Kumwe Hub provided seed funding that helped Ange improve the centre’s learning environment. She purchased office equipment, learning materials, and introduced feeding for the children, an initiative that was highly appreciated by parents.
Following a successful evaluation in 2024, Kumwe Hub expanded its support through ECD Curriculum and Business Development Services training. Ange and the centre’s caregivers learned how to improve teaching practices and create their own educational materials using locally available resources.
“Today we no longer lack learning resources. We learned to reuse locally available materials in our community to support children’s development,” she says.
With a recoverable grant, Ange also accessed financing to renovate her centre to meet the National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA) certification standards, creating a safer and more stimulating learning environment for children.
The impact has been significant. Enrolment increased from 69 to 93 children; staff grew from three to five caregivers, and the quality of learning improved. Ange has also successfully repaid two loan instalments, demonstrating the Centre's growing financial sustainability.
“The quality of education has improved. This ECD centre now supports the children, the community, and the government,” she says.
Today, Ange's centre is more than a childcare facility. It is a thriving community resource that demonstrates how the right combination of financing, training, and mentorship can empower women entrepreneurs to create lasting change for children and their families.
As of June 2026, Kumwe Hub supported 40 ECD centres with financial grants, capacity building and mentorship.
