Kakuma – June 5, 2026 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
At least 83 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and sub-recipients of the Tucheze Tustawi project from Turkana West, including the Kalobeyei Initiative for Better Life and ACME organization, have been trained on developing play items and learning materials aimed at creating safe, stimulating environments for children under three years.
The activity, facilitated through a collaboration between the County Government of Turkana and Amref Health Africa, focused on equipping CHPs with practical skills to design low-cost, home-based play materials, building on previous learning under the Nurturing Care Framework.
Martina Aoko Adega, Lead Trainer and TOT, Nurturing Care and Child Development, said the initiative strengthens the use of existing community structures to promote early childhood development.
“We need to leverage existing community structures as a ready resource, especially the CHPs who have already been highly trained and are implementing the Tucheze Tustawi knowledge. Every time they come across expectant mothers or families with young children, it is an opportunity to educate them,” she said.
She added that in the context of rising living costs, locally made play materials offer a practical and affordable alternative to purchased toys. “Households can use these items to educate children on colour matching, numeracy, intellectual and sensory stimulation, emotional, social, language development, and physical strength, preparing them for school and interaction with their environment,”
Reinforcing the importance of the initiative, Reinhard Anzeze, Technical Officer- Child Health, Amref Tucheze Tustawi, said early childhood development thrives when learning is embedded in everyday life.
“By empowering CHPs to turn simple household materials into play and learning tools, we are not only supporting children’s development but also strengthening families to become active participants in nurturing care,”
Lucas Emei, a CHP from Kalobeyei Unit, said the training continues to build on previous knowledge under the project. “Today, we learned how to create shapes and colour them using shredded paper. The trainers are also very friendly. It really brings the children joy whenever they see us, as they run curious to learn something new. We have seen positive changes, including improved hygiene,” he said.
Pauline Elote, a CHP from Nadapal Unit, said caregivers are now able to use locally available materials such as cartons and paper to support learning. “Most caregivers cannot afford toys from shops, but with these materials, children can now learn to identify colours, shapes, fruits, and animals long before school,” she said.
She added that parents are also being encouraged to use simple methods at home, including drawing and using safe household materials for creative learning activities.
Samuel Longes, a CHP from Nadapal 1 Unit, emphasized the need for greater involvement of men in childcare. “Parenting is a shared responsibility. Men need to be actively involved and participate in nurturing their children,” he said.
Rodah Ebonan, a Community Health Assistant (CHA) from Morongole 1 Unit, noted that CHPs play a critical role as the first link between communities and health facilities. “Caregivers now understand the importance of play-based learning and are increasingly integrating it into daily routines,” she said.
Lucas Taaban, a CHP from Morungole, said the initiative has improved children’s emotional, physical, and cognitive development. “We guide caregivers on how to use different play items for different age groups so they can easily replicate them at home,” he said.
John Ngasike, the Medical Officer of Health in Turkana West noted that the initiative has strengthened early identification of developmental delays, enabling timely referrals to health facilities for further support.
The CHPs also use play materials during clinic visits to help children feel more relaxed, reducing fear and anxiety associated with medical procedures.
The trained team of CHPs will transfer the knowledge and skills acquired to other CHPs within their respective Community Health Units. They will also train caregivers at the household level to promote play, early stimulation, and responsive caregiving.
According to Anzeze, this cascade approach is expected to strengthen the integration of play-based interventions within communities, increase caregiver engagement in child development activities, and enhance the tracking and documentation of play-based mental health, psychosocial, and social-emotional learning interventions at the household level.
