In the human life cycle the early childhood phase from birth to nine years is considered the most important phase for every human being. Giving children the best start in life means ensuring them good health, proper nutrition and early learning.
Parents, communities, non-governmental organizations and government departments have a role to play to ensure an integrated service to children. Collaboration between sectors is therefore of the utmost importance. Access to basic social services is the right of all children, parents and other primary caregivers. They should have access to as many resources as possible to provide the needs of young children.
So many communities are lacking in the above and the children end up “falling through the cracks” as they have missed out on the vital fundamental phase in getting them “school ready” and assisting them in setting a firm foundation of believing in themselves and trusting their communities.
Seeds of Africa addresses these needs through our Adopt-A-Creche Programme which is an Early Childhood Development Programme that serves to support teachers and children at Creches within the Muldersdrift/Lanseria communities
We currently have 167 creches within the West Rand, Ekhuruleni, City of Joburg areas that we support, with approx. 8,372 children between the ages of 1 month and 6 years.
Our Adopt-A-Creche programme consists of:
Early Childhood Development
Our ECD Programme focusses on teaching the ECD Practitioners practical, hands-on methods that create transferable and easily implementable creative learning methodologies, management skills and own resource making that are appropriate for Early Childhood Development.
The supply of stationery requirements and teaching resources and equipment to fit in with the curriculum
Base-line testing performed twice per year to assess their milestones achieved and school readiness of the children.
Teacher Training and Resource Centre
We have been guided organically to focus mainly on getting the children school ready and to assist the teachers to step more fully into their roles.
One of the biggest challenges for the crèches in informal settlements, is not having the resources to effectively teach the children and the lack of teacher training to use the resources effectively.
We identified the need for a training and resource Centre, where teachers within our local communities can attend to attain growth from our offerings.
The Teacher Training and Resource Centre has everything from books, educational toys, puzzles, educational aids, educational posters etc. All items can be taken out for a period and returned in a library–like fashion for all crèches and teachers to share.
Some of the short courses that we facilitate at the training centre are: Parenting; Courage Child Protection Toy Training, First Aid, Theme Tables, making recyclable resources etc.
We host monthly workshops covering a wide range of different topics facilitated by our creche specialists in the field of early childhood development.
We also offer a Basic ECD Skills Course (Level 1 & 2) which is perfect for teachers who are not quite ready with either their English language skills or do not perhaps have the required schooling level to attend ECD NQF Level 4 which we also offer at the training centre.
Drives throughout the year
During the year we have 4 drives where we encourage individuals, groups, corporates and schools to collect or sponsor the Creches we support with:
- Back to School – supply of stationery and printing of curriculum for each creche
- Winter – supply of winter warmers like blankets, beanies, scarves, fleezies, etc. We also
- Mandela Day – each year we do something different to celebrate Madiba’s birthday
- Year End – party with gifts of educational toys/food hampers for each child at the creches.
