As the number of our employees grows, so do the families we support through their employment with Wildlife Works in Kenya. In January 2012, we opened our first onsite children’s nursery for our young parents, so they would have a place for their children to continue to grow and learn while they work to help support their family. Twenty parents are bringing their children to the nursery on a daily basis, and it is wonderful to see all the smiling faces every morning as they arrive.

Mothers Bringing Their Children to the Nursery

There are currently twenty-one kids, ranging in ages from 2 to 5, attending the nursery. With that many children and the range of ages, they are split into two classes. There are eleven kids in one class and ten in the other. This ensures that each child is getting the attention and care they need throughout the day, while also providing a safe place to learn and play with their friends.

A Teacher and Some of the Children in One of the Classrooms

At the nursery, the children’s daily lessons consist of mathematics, language, social studies, science, life skills, creative time, and music which the children truly love. Among their more academic schedule, there are other activities to ensure the children are active and healthy. First thing every morning, the teachers check the health of the kids and since the medical dispensary is within the same compound as the nursery, it is convenient to get any necessary medicine for them that same day.

One of the Children Working on Language Lessons

The children also have physical education (PE) which is a time for them to exercise and have fun playing various games, like leapfrog, dancing, swinging or a good ole race around the compound. After PE, the children have a break for some snacks and time to relax before starting the afternoon’s lessons. Their day ends with lunch and everyone’s favorite from being a kid, naptime. As the children are resting, the teachers are preparing for the next day and getting the kids ready for when their parents come to pick them up from the nursery.

Children Swinging and Playing Footie

It is truly amazing to see each of these children’s faces light up as they arrive at the nursery each day, and just as amazing to understand how much the parents appreciate being able to leave their children at the nursery, knowing that their children are safe and learning while they go off to work and support their families. As the families continue to strive and grow so will the nursery, and we are so thankful to be able to provide a means of education and healthy living for the children.

A Teacher with All the Children at the Nursery