Elimu Community Light (ECOLI) began in 1999 as a response to rising rates of crime in the Daraja II ward of the Arusha Municipality in Tanzania and the current and anticipated problems of young children who are exposed to such a dangerous environment where crime is high and education is given a low priority.  The first early childhood development (ECD) center was established giving families and children a better opportunity to succeed in education and beyond rather than turning to a life of crime.

 Since this humble beginning, the organization has expanded greatly.  The founder and present coordinator of the organization received special college-level ECD training ending in 2005 and turned his sights and the sights of the organization towards broader issues facing ECD and the young children of Tanzania.  ECOLI officially registered as a nongovernmental organization in Tanzania in 2006 with registration No. OONGO/1699 and continued to grow from there. ECOLI now undergoes various other activities as well such as providing a nine-month-long training course for individuals to become ECD professionals, hosting public dialogues to discuss and raise awareness on child protection and other issues concerning vulnerable children, and actively lobbying the local government to try and make ECD a priority in Arusha.

Elimu Jumuiya ya Mwanga (ECOLI) alianza mwaka 1999 kama jibu kwa viwango vya mashariki ya uhalifu katika kata ya Daraja II wa Manispaa ya Arusha nchini Tanzania na sasa na kutarajia matatizo ya watoto wadogo ambao ni wazi kwa mazingira ya hatari kama ambapo uhalifu ni ya juu na elimu ni kupewa kipaumbele chini.   Ya kwanza ya utotoni ya maendeleo (ECD) kituo ilianzishwa kutoa familia na watoto na nafasi nzuri ya kufanikiwa katika elimu na nje badala ya kugeuka katika maisha ya uhalifu.

  Tangu mwanzo wanyenyekevu huu, shirika ina wigo sana.   Na sasa mratibu mwanzilishi wa shirika kupokea maalum ngazi ya chuo ECD mafunzo ya kuishia katika 2005 na akageuka vituko yake na vituko ya shirika kwa masuala mapana yanayowakabili ECD na vijana wana wa Tanzania.   ECOLI rasmi imesajiliwa kama asasi zisizo za kiserikali nchini Tanzania mwaka 2006 na OONGO/1699 No usajili na kuendelea kukua kutoka huko. ECOLI sasa undergoes shughuli nyingine mbalimbali kama vile vile kama kutoa miezi tisa ya muda mrefu mafunzo kwa ajili ya watu kuwa wataalamu wa ECD, mwenyeji majadiliano ya umma kujadili na kuongeza uelewa juu ya mtoto na masuala mengine juu ya watoto walio katika mazingira magumu, na juhudi za ushawishi wa serikali za mitaa kujaribu na kufanya ECD kipaumbele katika Arusha.