New ECD Center launched in Nyakiga, Burundi
The future of a nation is shaped long before a child enters a classroom. From conception to age eight, early experiences in health, nutrition, protection, and play determine whether children arrive at school ready to learn or already left behind. That’s why Help a Child focuses on the young child.
On the 28th January 2026, a new Early Childhood Development (ECD) Center was launched in Nyakiga (Butaganzwa Commune, Buhumuza Province) through the Child Centered Community Development (CCCD) programme implemented by FECABU with the technical and financial support from Help a Child. The event brought together representatives from the Ministries of Education, Human Rights and Health, the Provincial Administration, and OAFLAD/OPDAD, reflecting a shared, multisectoral commitment to young children.
The centre offers high-quality preschool education for children aged 3–5, inclusive play spaces, safe and accessible sanitation facilities, and parental awareness sessions on child protection, health, nutrition, hygiene, and nurturing care. These services are delivered in partnership with decentralised Burundian government services.
As Grâce Nininahazwe, ECD and Child Protection Advisor at Help a Child, highlighted: “This center will support children and parents, especially pregnant and breastfeeding women through health, nutrition, protection, and education tailored to children’s developmental needs.”
Echoing this, Malysie Hatungimana, Director of Preschool and ECD at the Ministry of Education, added: “Children learn through games and songs. Play develops language, social skills, and respect for rules, while helping detect early learning challenges and reducing school dropout rates.”
In turn, Fulgence Ndagijimana, Country Director of Help a Child Burundi, encouraged students of all levels from preschool onwards to continue their education to prepare for a better future. He further emphasised that the Nyakiga ECD Center demonstrates how community-anchored, multisectoral approaches can simultaneously protect, nurture, and educate children. This aligns with Burundi’s National ECD Strategy (2021–2027) and global commitments under SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-Being) and SDG 4.2 (Early Childhood Education), showing that investing early is not just ethical, it’s strategic.
In conclusion, Richard Butoke, Head of School Administrative Action at the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research, stated: “This space is not just a building; it is the symbol of a collective commitment to the future of our children.”
By bringing together families, communities, and government services, the center is more than infrastructure, it is a foundation for resilient, thriving children and a stronger society.