During my recent visit to the ICBC Project field, walking into a childcare center situated in Mymensingh District - in the north central part of Bangladesh, I was unexpectedly moved deeply. It was my first visit to one of 8,000 government-run childcare centers, part of the government’s Integrated Community Based Center for Child Care, Protection and Swim-Safe Facilities (ICBC) Project.

The place was vibrant with life. A group of small giggling children sat in a semi-circle, and their tiny fingers were busy with crayons, drawing trees, houses, and suns sharing colors, completely absorbed in their world. In one corner, a caregiver gently placed a sleepy child into a cozy bed under a sign that read Apon Bhubon, meaning “a place of my own.” With soft quilts and pillows, it felt like a warm embrace.

As I walked around, I met mothers coming to drop off or check on their children. One asked, “How long will this center continue?” I returned the question, “How long would you want it to continue?” She smiled and said, “At least two or three more years. My son is only one and a half. I want him to be safe until school.” Another mother shared how her son hadn’t spoken a word at two and a half. After six months at the center, he was talking in full sentences. “It’s amazing,” she said, her eyes filled with pride and relief. Many mothers said the center gives them peace of mind. Five hours of safe care allows them to manage household chores and greet their children with calm and joy when they return from the childcare centers.

I also met a caregiver with a disability who said, “Even if the project ends, I’ll continue this center. These children deserve care, and I’m here for them.” That day, I witnessed the local ownership firsthand and how deeply valued these centers are- filled with sense of safety, hope, and quiet transformation in the lives of children, mothers, and caregivers.

Above left: A child is tracing the outline of his hand with the help of a caregiver at the childcare center. Right: the caregiver, assistant caregiver, and a few mothers joined the children in an activity.

Drowning is the leading cause of death among Bangladeshi children aged 1-9, with around 30 under 5 dying daily (BHIS, 2016). Research backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies showed that community daycares can reduce child drowning by 88%. In response, the government of Bangladesh launched the ICBC Project, adopting these solutions. Synergos played a crucial role in scaling the initiative by mobilizing partnerships, leveraging and co-designing the project with the government in alignment with the Nurturing Care Framework.

Synergos continues to provide technical assistance to support the government, helping to create supportive implementation strategies, plans and deliver bridging leadership training to a diverse group of stakeholders, especially managers within government and NGOs, to build trust to improve coordination and collaboration in the best interest of children.

I'm proud to be part of this journey - one where thousands of children are growing up safer, brighter, and better prepared for life. As a storyteller, my visit deeply inspired me to gather voices from the field and illuminate the remarkable transformations this project is bringing to the lives of children and families and many stakeholders coming together to serve them.