Masikhule is an non-profit organisation in the Helderberg that has been training women from marginalised communities as Early Childhood Development (ECD) educators since 2005. Over the years this has expanded to include mentoring, capacity building and assembling an Early Learning Resource Library, and now it is taking its early-learning programmes online to benefit a wider ECD audience.
One of the roles it also fulfils is assisting the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) with registration of ECD centres in the area. It is legally required for all ECDs to be registered, or to be in the process of registering, which Masikhule has been appointed to oversee in Somerset West, Chris Nissen Park and Sir Lowry’s Pass. The process is very efficiently managed by Masikhule staffers Karen Bufé, Amanda Bangani and Jeanine Andro.
Last Wednesday evening (15 March), the Masikhule registration team hosted a successful a Masikhule ECD Hub Evening, a get-together for the ECD centres that fall within their areas. It was organised in response to a need voiced by many principals to have a place where ECD heads and staff can connect, share knowledge, learn from experts in the field and collectively find solutions to the challenges that they face.
Somerset House very generously offered its world-class facilities as venue for the event, and 65 principals and educators enjoyed an evening where they connected, shared knowledge, appreciated the presentations and soaked in the positive atmosphere.
The evening comprised three very varied and relevant presentations. Nizam Bray (Principal Librarian at Somerset West Library) gave a presentation on the services the libraries in the area offer, specifically to ECD centres and preschool children. This was followed a presentation by Léanne Keet, Masikhule founder and occupational therapist, on aspects of early intervention, exploring activities teachers can pursue with their young charges to encourage developing gross-motor and fine-motor skills, with particular emphasis on pencil grip activities, tips for developing scissors skills as well as visual motor integration. “Besides knowing ‘what’ to do, it is understanding the ‘why’ that is the catalyst in early intervention,” she explained.
Finally Zoë Douglas, a registered counsellor, TRE-practitioner and co-creator of Mind Your Breath project, wrapped up the programme with a session on mindful breathing and movement, aspects many ECD staff do not often find the time to focus on, but are essential for their health and well-being.
To top off a successful evening some great prizes were presented, kindly donated by Mantelli Biscuits, Sage & Thyme, The Coffee Roastery (Lourensford) and Life Retreat Studio.
Masikhule looks forward to facilitating more of these beneficial events in future.
