How a daycare center is advancing women’s economic empowerment in Mauritius

For more than three decades, a community daycare centre in La Tour Koenig, Mauritius, continues to be more than just a childcare facility. While providing affordable childcare services, it has, at the same time, enabled generations of women to join the workforce, earn an income and in turn improve the well-being of their families. The daycare center also continues to empower parents on issues around sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The MFPWA La Tour Koenig daycare center is a social enterprise initiative of the Mauritius Family Planning Welfare Association (MFPWA), an associate member of IPPF.

By Maryanne W. WAWERU

On a bright mid-morning in April, Ms. Kiran Seetohul, 50, walks into the MFPWA daycare center in La Tour Koenig, a locality south of Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius. Cradling her seven-month-old grandson, she is warmly welcomed by the center manager, Ms. Marilyn Dhookit. The daycare center provides fulltime care for children aged three months to three years, and also offers babysitting services for about 40 primary school children during school holidays.

Kiran works nearby as a casual labourer and usually returns to pick her grandson up at 3pm at the end of her working day. The child’s parents, both aged 21 years, work long hours far from home and don’t have the flexibility to provide daily childcare themselves. Hiring a child minder is also beyond their financial means. This is where Kiran, the child’s grandmother, comes in. Her flexible work schedule enables her to step in and support the young family. Every morning, she drops her grandson at the daycare center before heading to work and returns for him later in the afternoon on her way home.

The arrangement is a win for all of them. Kiran continues to earn an income, while her daughter and son-in-law also get to do the same without having to worry about their child’s care during the day. The baby also receives safe, reliable care throughout the day. At a monthly fee of 3,500 Mauritian Rupees ($76), the daycare center provides the family with a pocket-friendly, dependable childcare solution. Kiran has no hesitation about it. “I love this facility because it is clean and spacious. It is visually attractive for the babies and has lots of activities for them. The caregivers are friendly and the price is just right. It is a great place for my grandson,” she says.

All-rounded childcare center

The MFPWA La Tour Koenig daycare center is a safe space for children where they learn, feed, play, and thrive as they grow. With the different stimulating activities provided for them such as colourful toys, music and outdoor play, it creates an all-rounded nurturing environment. Additionally, it supports their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. “The caregivers feed the children nutritious meals, keep them hydrated, and ensure they are clean and comfortable. They change their diapers and give them a bath. They also keep a daily activity log for each child so that when you return to pick your child, you receive a proper briefing about how their day has been. I find this very professional and reassuring. Whenever I pick my grandson in the afternoon, I always find him happy, clean, and well-fed. That is why I love this place, and I can tell that my grandson loves it too,” says Kiran, a beaming smile on her face.

The daycare center’s longstanding good reputation in the Le Tour Koenig locale played a key role in the family’s decision. Although Kiran had been aware of its services, recommendations from her son-in-law’s relatives strengthened her confidence in it. “Five of his cousins had previously brought their babies here, and they gave glowing reviews about the services offered. That made it easier to convince my daughter to return to work after maternity leave as I assured her that I would handle the daily dropping and picking of her son. They are a young family, and this daycare center is directly improving their financial status by enabling them to work without worry. Had it not been for this facility, my daughter would have had to quit her job to care for her baby,” says Kiran. For families like Kiran’s, the center provides a reliable support system that helps parents to stay in the workforce and earn an income as their babies receive quality care during the day.

MFPWA’s response to an emerging need

Established 38 years ago, the MFPWA La Tour Koenig daycare center was founded at a time when women faced significant challenges in entering the workface, largely due to lack of safe and affordable childcare options. According to Ms. Vidya Charan, the MFPWA Executive Director, the facility was established to meet a pressing need in the community. “At that time, the country was engaged in intensive family planning campaigns that also stressed on women’s empowerment. As women began to space their children and plan their families, many aspired to join the workforce as a means to gaining financial independence. However, they had no one to leave their children at home with, and this presented a significant barrier to their ambitions. An intervention to address this gap was desperately needed,” she says. Recognizing this challenge, MFPWA began exploring ways to support working mothers.

The idea of a daycare center was born. “We thought of creating a facility where mothers could leave their children while they worked. However, this required investments and resources which we unfortunately did not have. So we approached the government with a proposal,” she says. In response, the government, through the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, provided a building (rent-free) for this purpose. This success was largely attributed to MFPWA’s well established relationship with the government, which recognized the organization for its commitment to family issues, and to women’s and girl’s empowerment. “Soon, more women began taking up jobs in textile factories, the agricultural industry, in offices, and as healthcare workers. Finally, they had a safe and reliable place to leave their children. They no longer had to worry about their children’s care as they earned an income,” says the Executive Director, who adds that the facility operates from 8am – 5pm on weekdays, and half-day on Saturdays.

Ms. Marilyn Dookhit, who has worked at the center for 31 years says she has witnessed, firsthand, how access to reliable childcare has transformed many families in the area. “With the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their children are in a safe place as they work, many women’s productivity at work has improved as they are better able to focus on their tasks. They tell us this as they drop and pick their children up. Also, judging by the number of referrals and repeat clients we get, it is a sure testament of the quality services we offer. These women have been able to educate their children and provide for their families. Their financial status has improved. We see these families in the community, and we can tell that one of the main reasons for their improved family well-being is because the women worked comfortably as their children were cared for at our facility,” she says.

A resource for SRHR information and services

In addition to enabling women to participate in the workforce, the MFPWA La Tour Koenig daycare center serves as an important entry point for SRHR empowerment. “We organize regular parent’s day sessions where we bring parents together to discuss a variety of issues around child development. During these forums, we provide SRHR information and services including family planning, teen pregnancies, HIV counselling and testing, as well as specialized services such as pap smears and laboratory services. We also offer referrals to our medical facilities and partners institutions, including government hospitals,” says Ms. Charan, the MFPWA Executive Director.

Community support for sustainability

As a social enterprise, the MFPWA daycare center balances community service with financial sustainability, a model that ensures it continues to meet local needs while still generating income to sustain its operations. “While the government provided the building, the community members helped equip it with essential items such as cots, tables, chairs, curtains and appliances like the refrigerator. We also regularly receive donations of toys, diapers and food for the children,” she says. For quality control, the daycare center operates under strict government regulations which ensures it maintains high-quality standard of care. “The Ministry conducts regular monitoring and inspection checks at the facility to ensure compliance. We adhere to all government requirements, which ensures that this is a safe environment for the children,” Ms. Charan explains.

Further, daycare staff regularly undergo trainings in key areas such as emergency preparedness, first aid and child development, which help in ensuring that the children are cared for by a well-trained team. Indeed, for families in Le Tour Koenig, the MFPWA daycare center is more than just a building. It is a catalyst for women’s economic empowerment, a safe and nurturing space for their children, and a trusted resource center where parents can access information and services related to their sexual reproductive health and by one of the leading healthcare organizations in the country.