WITH a spotlight on developing language at a young age, a cohort of excited young children and their respective early childhood development (ECD) practitioners, gathered over two days to kick-off a high-impact programme, aimed at stimulating language development through creativity.
Commencing May 24, the Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm ECD support programme hosted three cluster events in the Kouga municipal area.
These fun events drew close on 100 children, aged three to four, gathering at Ethambeni DCC in Hankey; Madiba Bay DCC in Jeffreys Bay; Mkhuseli Koliti Creche in Thornhill; and Kate van der Merwe Creche in Humansdorp.
“These events were themed ‘Fun With Waste’ and involved the practitioners who form part of our broader ECD programme, being tasked with creating their own television and microphone props using waste and recyclable materials to use in the classroom during morning ring or story time to tell a story, encouraging the children to participate in role play and other means that stimulate language inspiration,” said Tsholofelo Moote, economic development specialist for Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm.
The creative activity was designed to develop the child’s confidence, while building on their listening and language skills through storytelling.
Storytelling forms a crucial part in ECD as it is proven to develop their language skills and emotions while strengthening relationships and promoting brain development and imagination.
It will also hopefully inspire them to take part in conversations outside of the storytelling realm.
During the event the participating ECD practitioners were also encouraged to take part in these activities, with a prize of Lego for winners, from each cluster group, to utilise in their classrooms.
However, those unable to attend the events have not been excluded from the learning, as resources and guidance are provided for classroom implementation.
ECD support and development are a cornerstone of Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm’s Socio-Economic Development Programme. The ECD programme, through implementation partner ITEC, is committed to providing ECD practitioners with the necessary funding and support they need to further their education and improve their teaching capability.
In addition to this, the wind farm looks to support ECD centres with infrastructure repairs and renovations, in addition to educational resources.
Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm’s Foundation Phase Education Programme commenced in 2016 and is active across 14 primary schools within the communities of Hankey, Patensie, Ocean View, Jeffreys Bay and Humansdorp.
