- The Early Learning Resource Unit (ELRU) celebrated Mandela Day by organising events and activities to support local families and children.
- Volunteers and staff provided essential services, educational resources, and joyful experiences.
- ELRU, with 43 years of experience, focuses on early childhood development.
In the spirit of Nelson Mandela’s legacy, the Early Learning Resource Unit (ELRU) marked Mandela Day with a series of community-centered initiatives.
The non-profit organisation dedicated the day to giving back, organising events and activities aimed at supporting local families and children.
Volunteers and staff members came together on Mandela Day last week to provide essential services, educational resources, and joyful experiences.
ELRU has 43 years experience in the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector. Established in 1978, they support the cognitive development and executive functioning skills of vulnerable young children ages 0–6 by building the capacity of the adults around them.
Shannon O’Shea, Centre Support Programme and Training Manager at ELRU, said they work in under-resourced and impoverished communities “and really just doing what we can in terms of the broader organisation to make sure that we are providing the skills and sometimes the direct means for access to education,” O’Shea said.
Programmes
One of the programmes they focus on is the Centre Support Programme.
“This programme supports ECD centres, principals and practitioners to be able to run a centre well.”
The Caregiver Learning Through Play programme is part of a consortium of social service providers “and we are one of four, but we’re the only one operational in the Western Cape”.
In the Western Cape, ELRU covers the West Coast region – Atlantis, Melkbosstrand, Malmesbury and Saldana Bay. They also cover other areas which includes Dunoon, Khayelitsha, Langa, Nyanga, Athlone, Hanover Park and Belhar, to name a few.
One of the field workers and volunteers, Jeni-lee Richards, said the Lego programme they provide to adults and children in the Atlantis, Dunoon, Mamre and Pella areas have proven to uplift the communities.
The director and CEO of ELRU, Tracy Fortune, told the newspaper that one of the challenges they face is funding.
She adds that besides the funding chasing, resources in the communities are a huge challenge.
“Food is the hardest. Every child that’s in our programme needs nutrition. And they’re not getting sufficient nutrition at home,” Fortune says.
ELRU has also partnered with KFM and the Tracy Lang Cares Drive on Mandela Day and warmed up the communities of Cape Town.
- For more information about ELRu and their programmes, visit https://www.elru.co.za/elru.co.za
