Little Hands, Bright Futures: Our Donation to Daisy Daycare in Arusha

Meet Romina, Founder of Daisy Daycare

At Tanzania Specialist, we share not only a passion for Tanzania but also a deep connection with the local communities. Our colleague Romina from the sales team has been living in Arusha for almost three years. During this time, she’s established Daisy Daycare, a childcare centre that provides a safe, caring and nurturing environment for 60 children from low-income families.

Since this project is close to her heart, we wanted to support it and decided to make a donation to the Unistar Foundation, the organisation behind Daisy Daycare. In this interview, Romina shares how it all began, the difference Daisy Daycare makes every day and how our donation will be used.

Romina from Tanzania Specialist smiles at the camera. She supports Daisy Daycare in Arusha, Tanzania.

Romina, tell us a little about yourself!

Hi, I’m Romina, I’m 26 years old, and I’ve been living in Arusha, Tanzania, for almost three years. I’m a trained childcare professional, but I now work in Tanzania Specialist’s sales team. Shortly after arriving in Arusha, I opened a childcare centre called Daisy Daycare. Today, we care for 60 children between the ages of 0 and 6. The daycare centre is the first project of our Unistar Foundation.

We currently have a wonderful team that takes great care of the children. I’m mainly responsible for the finances, but I also visit them every week to see how the children are doing and developing. Through the foundation, we’re also planning to open an orphanage and connect it with Daisy Daycare. This would allow us to make an even bigger difference, and it’s my biggest dream!

What does the Unistar Foundation mean to you?

Since I started the project myself, it’s like my baby. Four years ago, I volunteered at an orphanage. Working with the children and local staff had a huge impact on me, and it was during that time that I fell in love with Tanzania. I’ve rarely experienced so much warmth and openness anywhere else during my travels.

When I returned, the orphanage unfortunately had to close. But I still wanted to create something of my own, even if it started small.

Being able to support the local community means so much to me, and seeing the children’s smiling faces gives me something special in return every single day. After all, every child deserves to grow up in a safe and loving environment.

A group of kids of Daisy Daycare in Arusha, Tanzania, with a teacher on the left

How does the Unistar Foundation support children in Arusha?

The daycare centre is located in a neighbourhood of low-income families, where it can be challenging to find safe childcare.

Three teachers teach the children in groups, helping them develop essential skills such as maths, writing and reading. English is also part of the curriculum, as it can play an important role in their future.

We also focus on developing their social skills. Our cook prepares three meals a day for all the children. This supports their healthy development and eases the financial burden on parents, many of whom earn very little each month.

In addition, we collect donations to support the education of each individual child. A good education in Tanzania comes with expenses, such as uniforms, school supplies and tuition fees, which many families struggle to afford.

Education often plays a major role in determining the career opportunities children will have later in life. That’s why it’s so important to us that they can attend a good school and have better opportunities when they enter the workforce.

How will Tanzania Specialist’s donation help?

Thanks to Tanzania Specialist’s donation, we can cover the rent and our team’s salaries for one month, as well as purchase enough food for the next two months. We’ll also finally be able to properly repair some water damage that we’ve been dealing with for several weeks.

What message would you like to share with our readers?

Giving the younger generation a strong foundation is one of the most significant things we can do. A child’s brain develops most rapidly during the first six years of life, and this is when the foundations for learning and social behaviour are formed.

When children grow up in a safe and loving environment during these early years, they get a positive start in life and hopefully a brighter future. Even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference!

Would you like to learn more about Romina and her work at Tanzania Specialist? Read our interview with Romina.