Unlocking Informal Innovation: The Early Learning Content Box Project

Vulnerable women in Ghana’s informal sector, such as kayayei and hawking mothers, struggle to access childcare, leaving children exposed and missing out on early development. To address this, Kaya Childcare Center partnered with the MasterCard Foundation on the Early Learning Content Box Project (May 2022–December 2023). The initiative engaged kayayei and youth to design handmade learning boxes for children aged 1–6, piloting babysitting kiosks and mobile facilitators to distribute boxes across five Madina communities. This project established safe, affordable childcare kiosks within the community, making quality early learning accessible to informal working mothers. The project engaged 115 marginalised youth to create and distribute 17,500 handmade learning materials, benefiting 508 children (257 boys and 251 girls). Implemented through a 14 week play based curriculum, the initiative fostered imagination, problem solving, patience, and self discipline, ensuring children remained developmentally on track. It also established a scalable model that empowered kayayei and youth with dignified income opportunities while innovating childcare solutions for marginalised communities. The project's lessons highlighted that proximity and affordability are critical for equitable childcare access, as financially vulnerable mothers cannot afford services without subsidies and need facilities close to their workplaces. 75% of the children that received child learning services and demonstrated improved outcomes were under age four; that is pre-kindergarten. It demonstrated the importance of structured play in fostering creativity, problem solving, and social skills, with notable developmental gains among children under age four. It is therefore important to explore innovative ways to provide equitable access that complements the mother or guardians work schedule and livelihood to ensure that the child’s development in the critical foundational years before kindergarten is not left to chance. Finally, strong community partnerships and incentives for youth caregivers proved essential for sustaining interest, ensuring contextual relevance, and creating flexible, income generating childcare solutions. This community based model promoted inclusive childcare while building entrepreneurial capacity among marginalized women and youth.