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Sikhula Sonke Early Childhood Development
Khayelitsha


According to a recent report, of South Africa’s approximately 19 million children, more then 43 per cent live in violent or unsafe environments. Within the Western Cape the numbers are no better and the situation is compounded by the fact that fewer than a quarter of under-six year olds receive formal pre-schooling. The statistics may seem disheartening and the challenge insurmountable, but Sikhula Sonke is one of many wonderful organizations channeling their energy and expertise into making a difference to the lives of pre-schoolers.


As an Early Childhood Development organisation, Sikhula Sonke ECD believes that parents and caregivers are uniquely placed to protect and promote the rights of children and to support optimal development during the early years. To equip them for this crucial role, Sikhula Sonke seeks to build capacity and to provide quality training, support, monitoring and mentoring.


Educare practitioners are able to register for FETC ECD Level 4 training, which gives them the tools, knowledge and confidence to deliver preschool education to the children in their care. Additional training is also offered covering topics such as financial management, health (including HIV/AIDs), accident prevention and nutrition. Through the monitoring programme, trained monitors visit educare practitioners in their pre-schools and help them to put their learning into practice on a day-to-day basis, providing ongoing support and mentoring and assisting them to get their pre-schools registered with the Department of Social Development.


Training for parents and caregivers focuses on empowering them to play an active role in nurturing their own child’s advancement physically, emotionally, socially, as well as educationally. The emphasis is on building the skills and capability of parents, helping them to understand how young children learn and develop, and teaching them how they can most effectively contribute to this vital life phase.


There is a desperate need for high quality pre-school education within highly vulnerable communities like Khayelitsha and Sikhula Sonke’s important work has to date reached over 65 educare centres that together care for 4000 children each year. Sikhula Sonke means ‘we grow together’, and this truth can be seen being lived out daily through the organisation’s work, as parents, carers and educators together make an enduring difference to the lives of hundreds of children, providing them with the firm platform they need for success in later life.

We need:

1. Money:

- for the upgrade and furnishing of an educare centre (approx. R45,000 per school)
- for the training of an educare practitioner (R12,000 each)
- for the creation and planting of sustainable food gardens at the pre-schools

Items:

- paper, crayons, arts and crafts materials, puzzles, books and toys
- Computers and office equipment

Time:

- to organise and support fundraising events
- to make patchwork quilts for our "Sewing for Sustainability" project
- visit our Coffee Shop in Khayelistha and see our work.

Contact: Wendy Wiemers, 021 683 9440
wendy@sikhulasonke.org.za www.sikhulasonke.org.za