In Colombia there are around 80,000 women who, in their own homes, care for neighborhood children and are paid for this by the government. Over a million children between the ages of one and five years are in the care of these day-mothers who, for the most part, are poorly prepared for this responsible role. The children are often simply “on deposit”, rather than cared for. This is unfortunate, because studies show that early childhood education is decisive for the later development of a person.

The Limmat Foundation therefore, together with the reputable Carvajal Foundation of Colombia, 2009 - 2013 launched a training program for day-mothers in the city of Cali. It aims to educate day-care providers who will in turn educate potentially at-risk children from impoverished families during the decisive first years of their early childhood development. 100 day-mothers were trained, and now provide care for 1,200 children. The multi-layered methodology was tested and subsequently improved. The evaluation of the pilot projects has shown that graduates of the Saberes program are better able to educate their children and strengthen their abilities. The children are healthier, happier and less aggressive. They are more attentive and better able to learn, more apt to frequent and differentiated verbal expression, and are less afraid of developing relationships with others. This will give these children a better start in life. 

This successful and cost-effective project was to extend to other regions of Colombia. The goal of the project is to provide over time a total of 1,000 women with training as professional day-mothers. Every graduate will then take charge of a group of 12 children. In other words, 12,000 children from the slums will receive competent, qualified care during the decisive years of their early education.