One of the gaps that have been identified is the lack of attention paid to the Early Childhood Development Education. Most of the ECD Practitioners are unemployed individuals who were not necessarily trained in how to teach these learners and are only equipped with just the basics in child care. The CDC in partnership with the Department of Social Development (DoSD) in the Eastern Cape is rolling out a project focusing on identifying and training of ECD Practitioners across the Eastern Cape. The differentiator in the approach to be adopted by CDC is that the training will not only focus on ECD content only, but will be supplemented by financial management skills as most of these centres are also revenue generators for these individuals.
The CDC donated 300 blankets and mattresses to the Department of Social Development, to be distributed to the different ECDC’s across the Province. Also the project will be launched as a Mandela Day Initiative which will be ongoing.
The organization has achieved the following to date:
- Secured 64 chairs, 16 tables and 30 blankets for Vusumzi ECDC in Mdantsane through one of our Contractors, Besamandla. Handover took place on 21 July 2015;
- Secured 52 chairs and 13 tables for Phaphamani ECDC in Queenstown through one of our Contractors, TT Construction. Handover took place on 17 July 2015;
- 5 x First Aid Kits handed over to all the identified sites, courtesy of Dr. Jarana from Health for All;
- Blankets, curtains and pillow donated to the Khanyisa Laleni ECDC in Qumbu. Material to be used in creating dolls and pillows for the children; and
- Donated 30 blankets to Lukhanyo ECDC in Walmer.