Covance-CARE Partnership in Rwanda

In celebration of Covance's tenth anniversary, Covance partnered with CARE, a leading global humanitarian organization, to support the Covance-CARE Early Childhood Development Initiative for Orphans and vulnerable Children in Rwanda. Covance's contributions helped transform three existing buildings into community day care centers for children aged two to four and renovate two existing nursery schools in the Kamonyi district of eastern Rwanda. Covance is also supporting the operation of the centers and schools to provide a safe and secure environment for pre-school children and assist in their physical, emotional, and cognitive development.

Up to 16 percent of all orphans in Africa are under five years of age. An estimated 70.9 million children in this age group are living in conditions of extreme poverty and disadvantage. The sheer scale and complexity of the problems of AIDS, conflict, natural disasters, diseases, and poverty are eroding traditional support networks and leaving these young children without the care that is critical to their growth and development. CARE International developed the 5x5 Early Childhood Development (ECD) Model, which is being implemented in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, and Rwanda. The aim of the program is to promote the well-being of vulnerable children below school age and address the significant gap in programming for pre-school orphans and vulnerable children in Africa.

The model also builds on CARE's strengths in fostering community economic development, child health, nutrition, and education, as well as the rights of these orphans and vulnerable children. CARE International is piloting the ECD project in the district of Kamonyi, which will assist communities to set up and run three ECD centers for children aged two to four in Musambira, Karama, and Nyarubaka sectors. The organization will also support two nursery schools for children aged four to six in Gacurabwenge and Karama sectors.

Covance and its employees are proud to be giving back to the global community. Together with CARE, Covance will help develop sustainable learning environments that will help empower and shape these children, who serve as the future of Rwanda.