Samira is one of the children at the Kinbu ECD center. She is three years old and was admitted to the center about six months ago. Her mother Adamu is about twenty-two years old and works as a Kayayoo (head porter) in the market.
According to Samira’s mother, they hail from the northern region and had come to Accra to seek greener pastures because there were not enough resources for her family and things were more difficult for her because she is the third wife. She said that life in her matrimonial home was difficult because her husband is old and she also did not get on well with the other wives.
She, therefore, decided to walk away from the marriage after series of quarrels with her rivals and her husband’s family.
In Accra, Samira and her mother spend the night in an open space around the market and was often carried at her mother’s back whiles she sought for loads to carry.
Her mother said that “I often felt tired and could not get business because some people don’t like engaging kayayoo who carry babies.”
Samira’s mother was introduced to the Kinbu center by one of the staff and the child was enrolled. Upon admission, Samira looked malnourished with puffy feet and discoloured hair. She could not eat well, did not play with the other children and cried most of the time. She was often brought in the morning looking unkempt and with barefoot.
Samira’s caregiver involves her in all activities such as rhymes recitals, storytelling, songs, games, and coloring among other activities.
Six months after her admission and regular attendance to the Kinbu ECD center, Samira now smiles, and her language skills has improved. She is able to express basic needs such as the need to drink water and use the toilet.
With the collaboration of the community health team, Samira’s mother was advised on nutrition for the child and her feeding at the ECD center was also monitored by the staff. Samira can now eat, her hair has changed to black and she looks more cheerful.
Samira’s mother, Adamu is now able to work to earn some money to take care of her child. She bought a pair of sandals for Samira and the child now looks neat when she brings her to the center in the morning.
She says “I feel very relieved because I can now work to take care of my child”.
She dreams of owning a shop in Accra one day and Samira going to secondary school and becoming a “big woman “in future.