Meet the Ugandan Sister Transforming Early Childhood Development in Africa

A Sister’s Mission: Sr. Pauline Acayo Spearheads Early Childhood Development Across Africa, Launching New Phase of Impact

NAIROBI, Kenya – From a young age, Sr. Pauline Acayo’s life has been a beacon of unwavering dedication, weaving together faith and a profound commitment to human development. As the Strengthening Capacity of Religious Women in Early Childhood Development (SCORE ECD) Coordinator and Communication Lead for Catholic Relief Services (CRS), she is the driving force behind a transformative movement that is impacting thousands of vulnerable children and families across Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia.

Sr. Pauline’s journey began as a young girl when she joined the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate in Gulu, Uganda. Her path, enriched by a Bachelor’s degree in education and further studies in Rome, led her back to her homeland with a singular purpose: building peace. This intrinsic desire for holistic well-being now manifests in her fervent advocacy for early childhood development. For Sr. Pauline, nurturing care for children, especially those aged 0-3 years, isn’t just about addressing immediate needs; it’s about laying the groundwork for long-term sustainability and the blossoming of a child’s full potential—physically, emotionally, and cognitively. “We have been changing attitudes and helping children grow holistically,” she emphasizes, her voice resonating with conviction.

Empowering Sisters, Transforming Communities: A New Chapter Begins

The SCORE ECD project, a testament to this vision, has just embarked on its fourth phase, which officially commenced last month with a critical baseline assessment. This new chapter, poised to run through January 2028, is made possible through the generous funding of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. Crucially, the initiative operates in close collaboration with the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) at the regional level and five national associations, which play a pivotal regional role in empowering Catholic sisters from 29 congregations across the five focus countries to become pioneers in delivering high-quality ECD services.

Under Sr. Pauline’s steadfast guidance, the initiative employs a multi-pronged approach: equipping sisters with the technical expertise to deliver Integrated Mother and Baby Courses (iMBC), supporting caregivers with vital knowledge in nutrition, parenting, and stress management, and strengthening the organizational capacity of the participating congregations and national associations. 

Additionally, the project focuses on institutional strengthening for sustainability, Strengthening Marriages and Relationships Through Communication and Planning (SMART Couples), Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC), and male involvement. In SCORE ECD IV, the project has further incorporated components of disability inclusion, home-to-preschool transition for 3-5-year-olds, and climate change interventions.

The impact of Sr. Pauline and the SCORE ECD team’s work in previous phases has been tangible and far-reaching.

Through rigorous training and mentorship, over 3,000 sisters have enhanced their organizational capabilities, leading to more robust systems, improved policy formulation, and increased visibility for their invaluable work. This empowerment has positioned them as influential voices in ECD advocacy and policy, securing their place in national and international forums, including ECD Technical Working Groups and the African ECD Network.

The project’s reach has been extensive, directly impacting over 20,500 parents and caregivers of young children, and indirectly benefiting an additional 80,000 individuals through outreach. Key initiatives like the Integrated Mother and Baby Courses (iMBC) have supported over 1,200 pregnant and lactating women with vital peer reflection and stress management. Moreover, more than 21,000 caregivers have engaged in ECD programming, leading to improved mental health and family support for over 56,000 children.

Holistic Development, Stronger Families, Expanding Horizons

Crucially, the SCORE ECD project, championed by Sr. Pauline, has fostered positive male involvement in family life. Fathers are actively encouraged to participate in pregnancy, antenatal care, and parenting, leading to stronger family relationships and shared responsibilities in budgeting, nutrition, and child protection. This holistic approach, as Sr. Pauline explains, breaks the cycle of poverty by ensuring that “when we help a child now, it makes the child productive in the future. The child will be able to love, share, and be a fully developed, spiritual person.”

The success of the Care Group model and the dedication of “Nurturing Care Facilitators”—formerly community health volunteers—are central to the project’s achievements. These individuals are pivotal in disseminating crucial information on good parenting practices, nutrition, child rights, and early learning, creating a ripple effect of positive change within communities.

As the SCORE ECD initiative moves forward into its impactful fourth phase, Sr. Pauline Acayo remains at the forefront, her unwavering belief in the transformative power of nurturing care guiding its expansion into new districts and counties across the region. Her journey, from a young novitiate in Gulu to a leading advocate for early childhood development, exemplifies the profound impact one individual, fueled by faith and an unshakeable commitment to humanity, can have on countless lives, shaping a brighter future for the most vulnerable among us.