The chairperson of the Grassy Park Early Childhood Development (ECD) Principals Forum says a donation of R150 000 worth of equipment on Wednesday May 17 will bring hope in a sector fraught with challenges.
Yumna Allie said the materials would “enhance the quality of learning” at ECD centres.
Ward 65 councillor Donovan Nelson had motivated for the substantial investment. “The investment has resulted in the acquisition of a wide range of learning materials, including Lego blocks, wax crayons, and self-correcting games. These resources have been carefully selected to promote creativity, cognitive development, and problem-solving skills among young learners in Ward 65,” said Mr Nelson.
Ms Allie said the biggest challenge is the lack of government support and funding to sustain the ECD sector, its staff and the children. “Yet, we service the community. We are blessed to have a ward councillor in ward 65 like Donovan Nelson. He cares about early childhood education and the people who drive this sector. He is compassionate about the plight of the ECD owners and the teachers.”
Ms Allie said the principals were grateful for what they received and “touched by his generous spirit”.
“We must all appeal to our ward councillors to consider the impact such support will have on children. Children who have a good early childhood education stand a good chance of doing well at school and later in life. This will have a knock on effect for the economy of our country,” said Ms Allie.
Mr Nelson said the primary purpose of this investment was to create an inclusive and nurturing environment in ECD centres within the ward. “By equipping these centres with the necessary resources, we seek to enhance the educational experiences of children and support their holistic development.”