Small Centres, Big Futures: Childcare Enterprises Rewriting Early Learning

The childcare microenterprise model was launched as part of a broader livelihood initiative, designed with two core goals: to create dignified employment opportunities for young women and to broaden access to early childhood education in underserved communities.

Dignified Livelihoods and Local Impact

Through this program, young women—often from economically marginalized backgrounds—receive training to become early childhood caregivers. They go on to establish small childcare centres in their neighborhoods. These enterprises not only empower women financially but also serve as a cornerstone for their personal and professional growth.

“It’s more than a job. It’s a way to shape the future of children in my community,” shared one childcare entrepreneur.

The centres support parents, especially working mothers, by providing reliable childcare close to home. Families benefit from safe learning spaces where children are nurtured in their formative years—setting a strong foundation for school readiness and lifelong learning.

Sustainable Entrepreneurship

Beyond individual empowerment, the model emphasizes sustainability. Each entrepreneur is trained in essential business management, early learning curricula, and community engagement. This combination ensures that the enterprises are both educationally enriching and economically viable.

Community members often recognize these centres as “bridges to opportunity,” providing children with quality early education while parents can pursue work or study with peace of mind.

Expanding Early Learning Access

The initiative addresses a critical gap in early childhood services, especially in low-income and rural areas where such facilities are limited. By equipping local women to run these centres, the program ensures that early learning becomes accessible and culturally relevant.

Its success demonstrates how community-based microenterprises can tackle education inequality while fostering gender equity and local economic resilience.

“By investing in women, we invest in generations,” said a program trainer.

Looking Ahead

As more childcare microenterprises scale across regions, they collectively contribute to transforming early learning systems. These centres are helping rewrite the story of early education—one classroom, one child, and one empowered woman at a time.

Author’s summary:
Childcare microenterprises create jobs for women and improve access to early education, transforming local communities through empowerment and sustainable early learning.

BRAC International — 2025-11-24