|  The Urban Markets Project is based in Kampala markets which focuses aspects relating to the Early Childhood Development among the children aged 0-8 years. This project started in 2008 in Kalelwe Market, at Miles2 Smiles which is a community based day-care centre initiative.
This year it has moved to two new day-care centres in Nakawa market. One is privately run and the other is a Church founded initiative. Ka Tutandike role is to support and partner with the already existing day care facilities. We facilitate early childhood development initiatives by providing access and referral services as necessary. Furthermore, we support small-scale child-friendly facilities by either renovating existing facilities or providing them with the necessary equipments that adhere to government standards. The day-care centres we have commenced work in 2011 are Our Lady and St Jude nursery school and Noble's Junior which are both within the Nakawa Market and Nakawa Division of the Kampala District
Our implementation strategy focuses on helping the market vendors who face so many challenges with their children while in the market since they have limited space for the children to have protection as well as access and enjoyment to play. Above all there is a government law which prohibits these children to be in the market places. Ka Tutandike's new support initiatives cover many areas which include the nutrition aspect where we partner with Mwana Mugimu Unit at the Mulago Hospital in providing referral services for both the children and their parents. We also assist the economic empowerment aspects by providing the parents of these children with training such as growing vegetables in sacks, baking cakes etc. The neglected nutritional aspects are given priority and awareness for the needs of children and any other aspect by which they are able to increase their levels of income and thereby support their families. At these centres Ka Tutandike facilitates small renovations to make the environment more child-friendly and conducive for children and provide essentials such as mattresses, play material and television sets. We see the importance of such elements being important in the formative years of a child's life but also being essential in the boosting of the cognitive development of the child. Hence even enabling protection measure such as keeping the children away from dangerous market environments that could be both injurious and fatal to them is a vital component of ka Tutandike's holistic strategy as we facilitate areas related to early childhood development.
For further information, please contact our Project Assistants:
Miriam Nakasewa
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Charles Matovu
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