In 2025, Grow ECD has a few ideas that can be implemented that will have a lasting impact on young children's lives for the rest of the year, says Grow ECD.

Helene Brand, Grow ECD's National Marketing Manager, says, "Supporting the ECD industry in South Africa is the best investment you can make, especially as we operate in a country where education is crucial. Research has repeatedly shown that children who receive good quality early learning have better life outcomes. Grow ECD's mission is to help centre owners — most of whom are women ­— run five-star preschools that provide quality education while also being more financially sustainable."

Empowering the People Who Are Educating the Next Generation

South Africa has more than 42 000 ECD centres and early learning programmes, many of which operate on low monthly fees and rely on government subsidies. Grow ECD is working with both registered and unregistered centres and provides various tools, training and support to improve the quality of education, compliance and sustainability of centres, says the organisation.

Currently, Grow ECD is working with 232 ECD centres in Cape Town, Gqeberha, Durban and Johannesburg through their three-year Small Business Programme, adds the organisation.

According to Grow ECD, this Mandela Day individuals can help Grow ECD centres with the following donations: 

  • preschool tables, chairs, carpets and mattresses
  • outdoor play equipment such as three-wheel scooters, one-wheel push scooters or soft balls, and
  • everyday essentials that can reduce the operating costs of the centres and improve health, hygiene and education such as, detergent, dish soap, toilet paper, wet wipes, art and craft supplies, age-appropriate books and toys.

Brand says, "Your donation of just R120 can, for example, equip a centre with a one-wheel push scooter. These toys create so much joy among the children, plus they are wonderful for outdoor play, gross motor development, social skills and do not take up a lot of storage space," she says. "We hope that people will mobilise their networks to collect items or make a cash donation online."

List of items required: 

  • age-appropriate books for 0-5-year-olds in decent condition and in local languages
  • cleaning items to keep spaces hygienic (handwash, dishwashing soap, bleach, multipurpose cleaner, wet wipes, toilet paper, tissues)
  • art and craft consumables (white paper reams, thick crayons, various colours of playdough, play-dough shape cutters, non-toxic water-based paint, paint brushes, glue sticks, blunt nose scissors), and
  • age-appropriate outdoor play equipment like tennis balls, soft large soccer balls, three-wheel scooters and hula hoops.

For more information, visit www.growecd.org.za. You can also follow Grow ECD on Facebook, LinkedIn or on Instagram. 

*Image courtesy of contributor