Sikhula Sonke Early Childhood Development Organisation Reaches out to the Enkanini Caregivers/parents of children who do not receive any form of ECD s

The Nkanini caregivers celebrated an early Christmas when Sikhula Sonke ECD gave them hope and a reason to smile. Sikhula Sonke ECD an NPO based in Harare Square, Khayelitsha, runs A Family and Community Motivator programme in Nkanini. This programme focuses on children less than seven years whose parents cannot afford to take them to a pre-school. The children are visited at home and the caregivers are taught how to stimulate their children. This programme of strengthening families is one many programmes that are run by Sikhula Sonke ECD.

When the Sikhula Sonke fieldworkers started working in Nkanini they were faced with the reality of abject poverty that faces the children and their families. They discovered that these families sometimes sleep without food; the children do not have warm shoes and clothes to wear in winter. Sometimes during home visits some caregivers are out to the dumping sites to find food. These are vulnerable children whose dreams are deferred or even die before they even grow up. It is needless to mention the illnesses that are attached to this kind of an environment,
Touched by this situation the Sikhula Sonke ECD community workers decided to make means to find them Christmas food parcels. These are very helpful to bring relief in their plight. The Claremont Methodist church (founder of Sikhula-Sonke ECD) members and friends of Sikhula Sonke ECD made it possible for these families to find a reason to smile and keep up the hope.


Parents, caregivers and children flanked by Sikhula Sonke ECD Family Community motivators (on Green T-shirts) after health and nutrition workshop which ended up with food parcel gifts organised by Sikhula-Sonke ECD.

This event was held on the 25th November 2010 at the Ithemba Apostolic Church of Zion in the community where these people live at Enkanini. These families are in the process of seeking ways to do income generation projects, however the children during this waiting process are starving and their development is affected badly. We are appealing to anybody who can to reach to these families through Sikhula Sonke ECD. We are in 35-903 Cephe Crescent, Harare Square, opposite spar supermarket, Harare, Khayelitsha or call us at 021 363 0057. Contact Person: Thembakazi Nxesi (Project coordinator).You can also email us thembi@sikhulasonke.org.za

Teachers graduate to lay solid foundations

On Friday the 3rd of December 2010, Sikhula Sonke hosted and celebrated a graduation ceremony for our Basic Assistant Teachers’ training. In total there were 37 learners who graduated and received certificates of competence in facilitating all components of active learning and practicals in early childhood development.

The assistant teachers are placed in Educare Centres around Khayelitsha, and most of them are the neediest centres that need support and mentoring. The Sikhula Sonke training not only assists teachers but also offers ongoing coaching and support for the entire educare centre, which impacts highly on the quality of education received by the children.

One of the learners appointed to speak during the event Ms Mirriam April from Nonkqubela Educare shared an emotional story of how the programme has helped her to grow in the care for children. She encouraged Sikhula Sonke staff to grow and be a fountain of knowledge for generations to come.This is indeed an inspiring feedback from the learners that Sikhula Sonke is contributing towards greater good of providing quality pre-education to the children of Khayelitsha.