For several years, we have provided grants to Child Care Community Development Initiative, which grew out of a project to distribute books and school supplies donated by a European nonprofit. In 2014, the seven men involved in the book distribution did a community needs analysis. It disclosed a high number of uneducated single mothers and orphans (11.8% of children under 18) in their community. One of them, Stephen Nyitho, with his wife Beatrice, began taking orphans into their home. As the children grew, they taught them their own trade, tailoring.

CCCDI was formed by the men in response to the needs analysis and the tailor’s ministry. In addition to tailoring, the nonprofit now teaches metalwork (welding) and beautician services (hairdressing and cosmetology). TILT has bought sewing machines and fabric for the school and sewing machines to some of the graduates. Because there are not enough machines, the graduates, organized into groups, share the machines to provide at least some income for each graduate. TILT has assisted with the cosmetology and metalworking programs, but their graduates lack equipment to start businesses.

In 2024, three of the CCCDI staff accompanied the delegation from SACLP to learn the Living Business Education (LBE) business curriculum to teach to graduates.

They suggested to TILT that it would be useful to expand this to other impoverished children too poor to afford vocational training. TILT purchased sewing machines for training and as starter machines for fourteen graduates. All fourteen graduates are successfully self-employed or employed using their skills, and are growing their businesses.

CCCDI is attempting to expand to teach metal fabrication and repair, and to provide cosmetology training. TILT has given them grants of $20,000 and $26,300 to begin this and support their ongoing training.

CCCDI have carefully accounted for every expenditure and for each student.