Nairobi, Kenya

Early Childhood Development Centre, Dandora Dumpsite

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OUR 2016 and 2018 PROJECT

Location: Dandora Dumpsite, Nairobi , Kenya

Project costs for 2016:  £19851

Donate to this project here

Images from BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18101593

Overview:  In 2015 we received a request from George Onyango from the DADREG organisation:

Dandora Dumpsite Rehabilitation Group (DADREG), a community development organisation is seeking support to enable us set up a child friendly centre for children of between the ages 2-6 years rehabilitated from scavenging in the dumpsite.Dandora dumpsite, the largest in Eastern and Central Africa, employing 10,000 people.  55% of those working their are women and children. Majority of these children are forced to work to supplement family income, while others are orphans, forced to work to provide for their families. These children have been prone to deaths and injuries sustained from the dumpsite. Infections, particularly of the respiratory tract, are a common cause of death. At least 25% of the workers had fresh injuries as a result of accidents from scrap metals and toxic waste. The African Network for the Protection and Prevention of children Against Child Abuse and Neglect, ANPCAAN, reports at least 53% of the children and youth at the dumpsite have respiratory tract infections, coughs and asthma.
More than half of children around the dumpsite have blood lead level above 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood, indicating exposure to high levels of lead (UNEP 2007).

DADREG’S AIM

The aim of the organisation is to rehabilitate women and children working in the dumpsite and provide them with sustainable livelihood through education, skills and capital enabling them to escape from the poverty. DADREG believes that if poverty is to be reduced among the vulnerable communities, they will need to get education and gain skills and capital made available to them. DADREG understands that without skills, people and especially women will continue going to the dumpsite because they could not compete with others who have finished their education and trainings and have access to capital.

Proposal from DADREG

“We are requesting funding to set up an ECD Centre for children between 2-6 years of age. These children accompany their mothers to work in the dumpsite. The effect of toxic waste in the dumpsite has been affecting their health. DADREG runs training sessions for those mothers working in the dumpsite. The rooms are too small to accommodate the mothers and their children. We hope that the ECD Centre will provide space for the children to stay and get an education and play whilst their parents are training.DADREG has a piece of land within the area we work, measuring 0.12 hectare. It is a big piece of land where we intend to have the ECD and a Vocational Training Centre for women and girls who work in the dumpsite so that whilst they are busy training, their children are being taken care of.

UPDATE

The construction faced many challenges which delayed the build and incurred unexpected expense. Here is an extract from DADREG Progress Report.

Challenges DADREG has faced in constructing ECD

Dredging the construction site:
We never thought that setting up a foundation was going to involve dredging the whole site. It took 20 tones Lorries to go 29 trips to clear the wastes. It also took 20 tone Lorries to go 30 trips to bring in hard core to fill in the dredged site where waste soils were removed. The excavation costs, transportation, refilling and foundation setting were very high as they were never part of the budget that we presented. Thus it eats in our budget line.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction Permits:
It took DADREG four months to receive the construction permit. This really took alot of time to settle and start the construction work.

Drought:
Drought has been a major hindrance in completing the project on time. Since October 2016, Kenya has experienced long dry spell. Even the short rain that came in April 2017 was not enough as taps still remain dry. This means that we had to stop the construction work at some point and even when the short rain came, it was not enough. This forced DADREG to buy water in order to continue with the construction work as we could not wait forever for rain that has not shown signs of raining soon to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a result of these challenges, further funding is necessary. We are hoping to provide funding so that the building of ECD can be completed.

Please see our Facebook Page for an update on Dandora and  click here to go to our dedicated donation page.

 

March 2025

Lara’s Foundation  in partnership with DADREG supports the continuing success of the Early Childhood Development Center and the education of the children as they progress to junior school education.

We funded DADREG to provide them with the means for a full year, to provide food and to cover the cost of teachers in both the ECD and the secondary school. This will give DADREG and the children the security and certainty that will make their lives a little easier

 

DADREG- LARA JONES FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP FIRST QUARTER REPORT Action Devolved Regeneration Group (DADREG)
This report outlines the usage and impact of the funding received from Lara Jones Foundation to support DADREG’s education project for the next one year as from March, 2025.
In this first quarter, the support received has been instrumental in enhancing the learning environment and ensuring the retention and wellbeing of vulnerable children enrolled at our education Centre.
DADREG received a total of £17000 as awarded for the project by Lara Jones Foundation.
Key Areas of utilization of the funds in the first Quarter, 2025
A daily meal plan was implemented, providing lunch meal to each child. This program ensures that students get enriched and nutritious diet while in school. This program currently supports 245 vulnerable children, helping to reduce absenteeism and improve classroom concentration. Part of these funds received were used to procure food supplies, cooking utensils and provide salaries to teachers, cooks and caregivers.
Purchase of Class Furniture (Chairs and Lockers) for learners DADREG has acquired a total of 60 pupil chairs and 60 lockers to help safety and comfortability of children while attending their classes
Purchased student-friendly science materials such as microscope, Bunsen burner for our junior school program and sensory learning tools for little children who are in ECD and junior primary.
The equipment acquired have so far benefited 350 students at our learning institutions learners through structured play and guided activities.
The feeding program has resulted in a 12% increase in average daily attendance. This is a great achievement as compared to the initial challenges of absenteeism that were experienced weekly.
Comfortable and well-organized spaces have contributed to better learner focus and interaction.
The provision of appropriate teaching tools has boosted motivation and productivity among teachers.
Teachers feel motivated as they are assured of their salaries every month without failure or interruption.
The funds have enables us to provide the children with food thus enabling us to retain the children in school.
We have also set up health system for the children, enabling us to have health providers on call to provide medical check-up.