Kowoki: CoWork & Play

Kowoki is my attempt to create something that I wish already existed.

I believe there must be a way for parents of small children to be there for their kids and pursue their goals. Modern world says: stay at home and care for your child, or send your child to a childcare facility and do your work. Some parents and children are lucky to have relatives living nearby who can help. But that is not my case.

The idea: Three to four mothers with their children, one qualified carer whom we hire and pay together. Alone, a nanny is a luxury. Shared between three to four families, it's around CHF 9-12 per hour per child. We meet 2-3 times a week for 4 hours. The children play together and are looked after. We're there the whole time — in the same room, or the next door with the door open. And we get a few hours for our own work.

The care is professional. The organizing is ours. We decide together whom we hire, when and where we meet, and by what rules.