A Year of the Bana Pele ECD Registration Drive: How do Principals Feel about it?

In 2024, the Department of Basic Education launched the Bana Pele ECD Registration Drive, also referred to as the 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞. Bana Pele means “Children First” in Setswana. More than a year later, the Centre for Early Childhood Development asks ECD centre principals across South Africa what is happening on the ground and how they feel about the Mass Registration Drive. • Does the Mass Registration Drive mean ECD centres will receive 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬 on their applications for registration? • Does the Mass Registration Drive make it easier to comply with the 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬? • What does the Mass Registration Drive mean in terms of accessing the 𝐄𝐂𝐃 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐲? 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲…

Will SA’s Government Fulfil its Mandate for Children? Part 2: Parents Share Expectations & Needs

As South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, we reflect on the journey we have taken and the challenges we have faced. This year, on 29th May, South Africans headed to the polls for the 7th democratic election. Friday, 11 October 2024, marks 100 days in office for South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU). We believe it is crucial to listen to the voices of those directly impacted by the decisions made at the highest levels of government. We have gathered insights, in a two-part series, from early childhood development (ECD) workers and parents of young children to shed light on their expectations of the 7th administration and the most pressing challenges that impact them and young children in their communities. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧. We invite you to watch and reflect on the question: Will the new government prioritise and support the real needs of the ECD sector to fulfil its vital mandate for young children?

Will SA’s Government Fulfil its Mandate for Children? Part 1: ECD Workers Share Expectations & Needs

As South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, we reflect on the journey we have taken and the challenges we have faced. This year, on 29th May, South Africans headed to the polls for the 7th democratic election. Friday, 11 October 2024, marks 100 days in office for South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU). We believe it is crucial to listen to the voices of those directly impacted by the decisions made at the highest levels of government. We have gathered insights, in a two-part series, from early childhood development (ECD) workers and parents of young children to shed light on their expectations of the 7th administration and the most pressing challenges that impact them and young children in their communities. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐂𝐃 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐚, 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧. We invite you to watch and reflect on the question: Will the new government prioritise and support the real needs of the ECD sector to fulfil its vital mandate for young children?

Political Party Promises for ECD and Young Children

Election Day, 29 May 2024, is fast approaching. This is an important moment in our nation’s democratic process, and the Centre for Early Childhood Development is working to Make ECD an Election Issue. We approached the eleven main political parties to give us their views on ECD. We asked them to tell us what they would do for young children and the ECD sector, if elected, and what they are planning to do about the current challenges affecting young children in South Africa. This is what the parties that responded had to say…

The Inequality of ECD programmes in South Africa

With all the poverty and inequality ravaging the country, one of the struggles and challenges not discussed often, is the state in which different children across South Africa find themselves in. The inequality gap in the early childhood development (ECD) sector is immense. It is tragic, and it not often spoken about. Until now . . . What you are about to see is the reality of this inequality and the reality of the state of early schooling in this country. You will see what is possible in South Africa, and the wonderful ECD programmes some young children experience every day. You will also see a lack of resources and the denying of children’s opportunities to learn in safe and conducive spaces. It is time for the government to support young children in South Africa. With the upcoming National election in South Africa, we must remember the voiceless; the young children in our country who do not get a vote. It is the responsibility of each citizen to vote; to ensure that young children in this country are not overlooked, but rather get the best they deserve. You can be a voice for young voiceless children who need your action. Starting now…

ECD STORIES: The Story of Little Angels 2, an ECD centre with no flushing toilets

Little Angels 2 is an ECD centre located in the centre of the Khayelitsha informal settlement in the Western Cape, in an area called Enkanini. They have been operating for the last 16 years without flushing toilets. Due to the poor service delivery in Enkanini, as in most townships, the principal has taken it upon herself to manage the waste system. She empties, cleans and disinfects all the potties that are used as toilets in her centre. All this, without the fundamental right to clean water and sanitation being supported and implemented by their local municipality and government. This is their story… To find out how you can assist Little Angels 2, or other ECD centres like it, you can contact the Centre for Early Childhood Development: www.cecd.org.za | +2721 683 2420 | cecd@iafrica.com

CECD Advocacy and Social Justice Launch

In June 2021, Centre for Early Childhood Development launched the ‘Advocacy and Social Justice Unit’, led by attorney-at-law, Yusrah Ehrenreich. The CECD Advocacy and Social Justice Unit will work to inspire action on early childhood development in South Africa, and globally. We will do this through amplifying voices in an intrinsically non-exploitative way, and mobilising and unifying the ECD sector around key demands and campaigns. For more information, view the Unit’s webpage on Advocacy & Social Justice – CECD

‘One of a kind’: Building ECD Centres in the Western Cape

This great video documents the work we’ve done in Kraaifontein and Wallacedene, in the Western Cape, in partnership with the Stichting Mzamomhle Foundation. It is an honour to work on projects such as these, and incredibly humbling to work with the wonderful women running these ECD centres.

Mandela Day 2017 Initiative

The Centre for Early Childhood Development, together with some wonderful companies, celebrated Mandela Day 2017 with the children of Sunshine Educare in Wolwerivier, a temporary relocation area in the Western Cape. A huge thank you to POCO and Anchor Industries for their generous donations, as well as all the teachers, volunteers, parents, caregivers and children for making the day a memorable one. We are very grateful to everyone who played a part in making this day happen.

The Importance of Early Childhood Development

This beautiful video was produced by the Centre for Early Childhood Development and was made possible through the support of the Foundation for Human Rights (www.fhr.org.za/). Our sincere thanks to all involved in the production. Early Childhood Development: building our country, transforming our future, putting young children first..

CECD on Top Billing

The Centre for Early Childhood Development was on Top Billing (on SABC3), on their special Mandela Day 2013 episode (18 July 2013), doing an ECD centre makeover! This makeover was at Bridges Educare Centre in Athlone, and brought together the staff from the Centre for Early Childhood Development, staff from Standard Bank, and the presenters from Top Billing. Watch this insert to see what a difference we can all make for young children when we work together.

Our Mandela Day Initiative on Expresso

The Centre for Early Childhood Development’s Mandela Day Initiative, in partnership with the amazing social enterprise See-Saw-Do, was featured on SABC 3’s Expresso show. This Initiative provided preschool makeovers as ECD centres throughout the Western Cape and was a great success, providing hundred of children with fun, colourful and vibrant environments in which is develop and thrive.

Mandela Day 2013 Campaign Video

On Mandela Day (Thursday, 18 July 2013) the Centre for Early Childhood Development, together with See-Saw-Do, partnered with corporate volunteers to paint preschools throughout the Western Cape. Together, we provided hundreds of children with a bright, stimulating and fun learning environment!

Thanks to our partners who sponsored activations: SAB, Maersk, Allan Gray and Mediclinic
With Special Thanks to Scheckter’s Organic Energy Drink, Go Pro, Soft Light City, and Sales Hire.

To find out more about the project, please contact Lauren van Niekerk on 021 683 2420 or by e-mail at cecd@iafrica.com , or contact Jeremy on 082 420 7283 or by email at info@seesawdo.com.

Flashback Friday – CECD Vuka Award Entry (2006)

83% of South African children aged 0-6 do not benefit from quality early education that ensures success in literacy and numeracy and a safe place of care while parents are at work… Is Vusi one of the lucky few? Watch to find out.

Flashback Friday

We have our second video on YouTube and it is quite the ‘flashback’. The video shows us receiving the Presidential Award for Education Excellence in the ECD Category. In 1998! Can you believe that was 15 years ago?

We have our first video on YouTube

This video showcases the work done by our family outreach workers in the Greater Gugulethu Area. Enjoy! Please subscribe to our YouTube channel for updates on new videos!