As part of the Kouga Early Childhood Development Project, the Centre for Early Childhood Development (CECD) is in the process of upgrading ECD centres in the Kouga Municipality.
On June 28, CECD, which is an NPO committed to putting young children first by ensuring quality care and education for our country’s children, celebrated the opening of Magaba’s Daycare in Sea Vista.
Previously, this ECD centre was based in the house of the principal, Sienna Pinzi, but they now have new infrastructure which means that children can play and learn in a safer and more conducive environment.
According to Sarah Atmore, programme manager at CECD, with the support of the Kouga Wind Farm Community Development Trust, they are currently working with 33 ECD centres over a five-year period with the aim of increasing young children’s access to quality ECD services in the area and to make it possible for children to grow and develop to their full potential.
She said the new infrastructure was made possible through a partnership with Breadline Africa and work on-site by the Novem Holdings’ construction team, and many other role players who all pulled together to support it.
The opening function was a day of celebration with representatives from the Kouga Wind Farm Community Development Trust, Bophelo Imphilo Development Centre, CECD, Africa A+, staff and governing body members from the centre, the local ward councillor and community members, in attendance. All these stakeholders came together to support the important role of ECD and to commemorate this important day. The children from Magaba’s Daycare were also in attendance and each child received a new book. Atmore said their work with the ECD centres on the Kouga ECD Project was comprehensive and integrated.
“We are providing leadership and management training and support, first aid training, infrastructure upgrades, education equipment provision, and support with registration and compliance. We have partnered with Africa A+ to provide ECD training and implementation support on how to provide children with a quality early education no matter the context that the school and community find themselves in,” Atmore said.
“Part of this project which was launched in August 2020 is developing and training a team of local ECD facilitators that support the ECD centres in implementing what they have learnt.” For more information contact Jessica Blom on 021 683 2420, email jblom@cecd.org.za or visit the NPO’s website www.cecd.org.za.
