Early Childhood

Early Childhood Development

The first years of a child’s life form the foundation upon which they build their future. But millions of children in Cape Town’s township communities do not have access to quality early education. These preschools often struggle to create safe and conducive learning environments for children, due to a lack of access to funds and support. Problems can include unsafe structures, poor sanitation and untrained staff. Despite this, the need for preschools in these communities is immense, with some centres caring for hundreds of children every day.

Ikamva Labantu’s ECD programme works with established community preschools to train principals and practitioners in best-practice techniques and to support them with educational resources so that they can improve their offering. The training equips principals to better manage their preschool and become financially self-sufficient, while providing quality and age-appropriate education to the children in their care. Ikamva Labantu’s model preschool in Khayelitsha, Kwakhanya Educare, serves as a training facility where practitioners can gain practical experience and mentorship in the classroom. 

Preschools are able to access a government grant by registering with The Department of Social Development (DSD). This grant is a critical stream of income for under resourced preschools, but it can be hard to access. Preschools have to comply with strict norms and standards set by the government in order to successfully register and receive their subsidy. Navigating this path towards registration, and maintaining a registered status, can be long, complex and financially demanding. Ikamva Labantu’s Registration Helpdesk was established in 2015 to assist principals and guide them through this process.