Grow ECD calls on public to support early education this Mandela Day
In the lead up to Mandela Day on Thursday, 18 July 2019, Grow Educare Centres invites individuals and companies to partner with them and other ECDs in different capacities to bring about sustainable change. "We represent 30 Educare Centres across under-resourced communities in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg; all of which are independently owned and working in partnership with us to achieve a five-star ECD rating," says Tracey Chambers, CEO of Grow.
Image Supplied.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation also recently announced that its strategy for the next ten years of Mandela Day will focus on policy change, with ECD taking centre stage. ECD is a child’s crucial development phase between birth and when going to school. During this phase, children learn foundational cognitive abilities, attitudes, and skills in preparation for primary school and the rest of their life.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his 2019 State of the Nation Address, said that he wants to see all South African children receive at least two years of Early Childhood Development (ECD) before they begin Grade 1. This commitment to early education for the country’s children could radically change South Africa’s prospects for education and economic growth.
Grow with Educare Centre's opportunities for Mandela Day 2019:
1. Donate locally made, and child-appropriate Book Dash books towards mini-libraries.
2. Donate outdoor play equipment or towards the labour costs of laying artificial grass at Grow ECD centres.
3. Donate educational toys and equipment to be used in GROW ECD centres. The supplier will match every donated item.
4. Volunteer your time to create a Sensory Board for an ECD Centre.
5. Adopt an ECD Centre through a two to five-year partnership which will help them to reach five-star ECD level and run a sustainable business.
These Mandela Day opportunities are based on an assessment done by the Grow Educare Centres project, which currently has 30 centres running across Cape Town, Durban and Gauteng.
Participants can identify which specific centres or regions they want to support, plus all financial donations qualify for tax deductions and SED (Social Enterprise Development) or ED (Enterprise Development) points. Section 18A certificates are also supplied.
