Shaping Tomorrow: The Impact of Early Childhood Development Programs on Rwanda’s Mining Workforce

From August 19^th to August 21^st, 2024, the National Early Child Development (ECD) Conference 2024, organized by the National Child Development Agency (NCDA) and its partners, takes place at the Kigali Marriott Hotel under the theme “Nurturing Tomorrow: Advancing Sustainable Early Childhood Development.”

The conference brought together 350 stakeholders including representatives from Government Institutions, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), children’s representatives, the Private sector, academia, and ECD service providers.

The event focuses on addressing progress, identifying gaps, and renewing commitments to providing high-quality ECD services that shape children during their formative years.

On the second day of the conference, Eng. Andre MUTSINDASHYAKA, the Secretary General of the Rwanda Extractive Industry Workers Union (REWU), during a panel discussion, shared their experiences in strengthening integrated and inclusive ECD services for children aged 0-3, and the nutrition pillar in early childhood development services.

Eng. MUTSINDASHYAKA presented the best practices in the mining sector, focusing on the implementation of Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs in the workplace.

He stated that mining is a known location with numerous risks, including being hit by a mine. He highlighted Rwanda’s abundant minerals, earning 1.1 billion RWF last year, and aiming to reach 1.5 billion this year, that despite risks, the country has a significant amount of precious and beautiful minerals.

He said, “That’s why we, as the syndicate advocate for workers in the industry, protecting their rights and increasing production, as per its role.”

Eng. MUTSINDASHYAKA highlighted the issue of children among workers in the mining sector, with women only participating at 11.4% in 2021. Despite the lucrative industry, women are often excluded from it, especially in rural areas where agriculture is prevalent, highlighting the need for more inclusive and gender-inclusive work opportunities.

He discussed the issue of children in mining due to special laws and advocated for the establishment of ECD programs to help women bring children to their work, addressing the issue of exploitation.

He said, “It was done, initially as an experiment, yielded positive results, particularly when workers left children home. However, concerns about child safety and feeding issues arose, particularly when parents reached home late. Advocacy was established to address these issues.”

He revealed that the program is a collaboration between various organizations, including the Rwanda Mining, Petroleum, and Gas Board (RMB), UNICEF Rwanda, the National Child Development Agency (NCDA), REWU, the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), and mining companies.

He concluded that the initiative has improved employee productivity and efficiency, leading to increased performance and overall benefits for companies.

During these discussions, Jean de Dieu KAYIRANGA, the staff member responsible for the Education Department at the Imbuto Foundation, shared insights on the foundation’s progress in developing Early Childhood Development (ECD) services.

He stressed that the foundation’s focus is on improving access to quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) services for children aged 0-6, promoting positive parenting, and involving both parents, particularly fathers, in their children’s development.

“These efforts have notably improved access to services for the most disadvantaged children in the communities. To date, more than 185,997 children and their families have benefited from this initiative,” he said.

The Director General of NCDA, Assumpta INGABIRE, emphasized that investing in early childhood development is crucial, as 80% of a child’s brain capacity is developed within the first three years of life.

She highlighted the benefits of investing in early childhood, highlighting its potential to improve outcomes, enhance learning, increase adult earnings, reduce poverty, and promote peace.

She emphasized the importance of policies and programs that empower parents and caregivers to provide the best start in life, leading to healthier, better-educated children and sustainable growth.

EDC Services promote the development of sensory-motor, social-emotional, and cognitive language skills in young children, while also providing parents with the necessary tools for effective parenting. Currently, in Rwanda, there are 31,638 ECD facilities with a total of 101,809 caregivers.