
Quality early learning is critical to success in later life. Since 2009, the SLT has been supporting Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiatives in the communities living near our lodges in South Africa.
Although South Africa has a strong ECD curriculum, support for its implementation in classrooms is limited. Educational resources are sparse and infrastructure often severely lacking. Financial support from the government is minimal and complex to access, and parents are required to pay school fees, but are often unable to do so.
The programme, which provides training, workshops, and onsite support to 100 Centre
Managers and Practitioners supporting 2 000 children, is focused on achieving six objectives:
• Effective implementation of the national curriculum
• Sound management practices
• Access to government funding and services
• A healthy and safe learning environment
• Community and caregiver participation
• A well-resourced ECD centre
The SLT ECD programme aims to move centres through a four-year support cycle after which they will emerge as Good Practice centres. At this point, a new group of schools will be accepted into the programme.
85% of brain development occurs in the first five years of a child’s life. Our Holistic ECD Support Programme currently supports the physical, cognitive, psychological, and social development of 2000 preschoolers. Holistic Early Childhood Development Support
In 2022, the ECD Resource Drive will equip the 20 classrooms for children between four and five-years-old at an estimated cost of R1.8m (est US$112500k). Any contribution made will go towards this annual Resource Drive.
NOTE: Emergency food relief is no longer required, as access to school nutrition programmes has been restored.