At Kapeta Primary School in Lamwo District, the impact of APPCO’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) interventions is visible not only in improved enrolment and attendance, but also in the confidence, participation, and learning outcomes of young children. Through strategic investments in infrastructure, nutrition, play-based learning, and community engagement, APPCO continues to strengthen the foundation for quality education among vulnerable children and their families.

The Headteacher of Kapeta Primary School shared how the partnership between APPCO, caregivers, and the wider community has transformed the school’s ECD programme into a model of hope and progress. During the district registration of ECD centres, Kapeta Primary School stood out because of its large enrolment and active parental involvement. According to the Headteacher, the strong partnership between APPCO and the community played a critical role in sustaining the programme. “Parents are committed and are working together with APPCO to ensure that the programme continues through different interventions,” he explained. This collaboration has strengthened community trust in early childhood education and encouraged more families to enrol their children in school at an early age.

Safe and Child-Friendly Learning Spaces: Before the construction of the ECD classroom block, children attended lessons under trees, exposing them to harsh weather conditions and disrupting learning whenever it rained. “When it rained, most children would run back home,” the Headteacher recalled. With support from APPCO, the construction and roofing of the classroom block created a safe and conducive environment where children can now remain throughout the school day. The Headteacher observed that ECD learners increasingly stay at school until evening, often waiting for older siblings or parents returning from work. The classroom block has become more than a physical structure; it now serves as a protective and nurturing space where children feel secure, supported, and ready to learn.

Improving Retention Through School Feeding: The school feeding programme has also contributed significantly to learner retention and well-being. Initially designed to provide breakfast porridge, the programme later expanded to include lunch after the school received overwhelming food contributions from the community. “The food items collected became too much for storage, so we introduced lunch to sustain the stock,” the Headteacher shared. As a result, children remain at the centre longer, engaging in learning and play activities throughout the day. The feeding programme has eased pressure on caregivers while improving children’s concentration, attendance, and social interaction.

Play-Based Learning Creating Joyful Learning Experiences: APPCO’s investment in play materials and child-friendly spaces has transformed the way children experience learning at the ECD centre. Previously, caregivers struggled to conduct play sessions because of limited resources.“Children now look forward to any free time so they can go and play,” the Headteacher noted. The play facilities have become a major attraction not only for enrolled learners but also for children from surrounding communities who regularly visit the school to interact and play together. This has fostered inclusion, social interaction, and emotional development among young learners.

Encouraging Transition to Primary Education: Graduation ceremonies for ECD learners have also played an important role in motivating parents to continue supporting their children’s education journey. “Parents do not want their effort to go to waste, so they immediately enrol their children into Primary One,” the Headteacher explained. The celebrations have created positive competition among parents, encouraging more families to enrol their children in the ECD programme so they too can benefit from the opportunity to graduate and transition into formal schooling.

Teachers in the primary section continue to observe a clear difference between children who attended ECD and those who joined Primary One directly. ECD graduates demonstrate stronger communication skills, confidence, participation, and readiness to learn. Interactive teaching methods that include speaking, writing, and play-based learning have helped children transition more smoothly into primary education. The headteacher further highlighted the impact of the program through a personal experience involving his own children.

“The ECD center laid a good foundation for my young daughter since she was enrolled from the beginning. She is making much better progress than her brother, who went directly to the primary section,” he shared. He added that feedback from her class teacher has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly regarding her active participation and confidence in class.

Through its holistic ECD interventions, APPCO continues to demonstrate the transformative power of investing in young children. By combining safe learning spaces, nutrition support, play-based learning, and strong community engagement, the organization is helping children in Lamwo District build a stronger foundation for lifelong learning and success.