Affordable, Flexible Childcare Helps Indian Mothers Earn More and Worry Less

In South Africa, the extreme gap between rich and poor is the root cause of cyclical poverty, and those living in slums face particularly high barriers to education, healthcare, and quality of life. The Ubuntu Education Fund is using a comprehensive approach that includes sustainable investment in community leadership and infrastructure, a cradle-to-career household stability service, and a dexterous, community oriented approach to helping break the cycle of poverty.

States across India are providing free bus passes for women so they can afford to join the workforce and have more financial independence.

Women-only taxi companies like An Nisa in Nairobi empower women to become rideshare drivers. These opportunities combat gender bias and create a safer space for women.

A coworking space in Baltimore focuses on making it easier for Black mom entrepreneurs to grow their businesses by offering affordable, on-site babysitting.

Worker-run co-ops in the food industry and in the care sector, industries hard hit by COVID-19, have proved resilient in weathering the pandemic. Some, like Cooperative Home Care Associates, partnered with other co-ops to provide discounted PPE supplies for workers. Others provide job opportunities for people who have trouble getting a foothold, like ChiFresh Kitchen’s formerly incarcerated women worker-owners and Red Emma’s in Baltimore. Worker-owner models can also pivot operations more quickly, which helped Brooklyn Packers respond to the pandemic by providing fresh produce to those in need.

Economic mobility becomes far more attainable when children grow up in a "high-opportunity" area as opposed to a "low-opportunity" area: housing within the city with access to transportation and amenities, higher-performing schools, and lower crime rates. An enhanced voucher program through the Charlotte Housing Authority offers families housing vouchers to move into high-opportunity areas. They also offer incentives to landlords who accept the vouchers, such as up to $1,000 to repair damage beyond normal wear and tear. The program is still new, and it will take generations to see its affects.

For women working in theatre, child care remains one of the biggest barriers to advancement, but groups of mothers are working to change that and make a more welcoming work place. These solutions include work breaks long enough to accommodate breast-feeding, rooms designated for that purpose, options for babysitting during auditions, and long work hours.

Black-led summer camps and community programs are addressing the dual challenge of rising child care costs and lack of culturally affirming options for Black families. Programs like Camp HBCYouth and Camp Legacy offer affordable, comprehensive outdoor summer camp experiences, complete with meals and extended care if needed. The programs also act as community builders, helping youth form friendships and strengthen their connections to the outdoors.

GO SiKanda supports informal waste pickers in their efforts to professionalize, set up enterprises, and improve their communities’ waste management. To date, health and safety policies have developed, respect has grown, and wages have increased.

In partnership with other local organizations and advocacy groups, Communities for Kids trains providers to offer Spanish-language childcare, as the state lacks sufficient access to culturally responsive, bilingual care. The training is free and has already licensed several individuals who now run their own Spanish-speaking childcare centers.