"Khayelitsha has a large number of children who are not accessing formal early childhood development services due to factors that include inadequate family income, difficulties due to distance between villages and the ECD centres as well as a lack of information and education regarding the importance of child development," says Mdebuka Mtwazi, executive director of Sikhula Sonke ECD in the Western Cape.
Through these programmes, approximately 2 000 children have obtained access to ECD, while 27 volunteers have been trained in basic ECD skills, coaching centres, and the family community motivation (FCM). According to Mtwazi, children who have access to ECD services tend to have fewer grade repetitions, have higher schooling completion rates, make better and more informed choices in life, have better relationships, tackle challenges, have increased self-confidence, greater independence as adults and are socially and emotionally healthy.
"While we try to give children the opportunity to discover and learn about their world, poverty, lack of support and proper school curriculum for preschool ages are just some of the challenges that ECD sector faces in South Africa, " explains Mtwazi.
With the programme the practitioners have embraced ECD as a proper career path and have made great progress in their academic ECD training levels. "We have revived dreams and many families are taking charge of their lives. ECD is the first and the greatest milestones in the early years of every individual. We are trying to convey the message that say ECD is vitally important and each child should receive it either formal or informal but coordinated," concludes Mtwazi.
"Education and the development of young children is important. By creating a solid foundation from the beginning, we are ensuring that our children will have a better education and future," says Pearl Mphuthi, manager at FNB Fund.
