ECD PRACTITIONERS EMPOWERED

August 2023.

Thandi Mothupi is one of 45 dedicated Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners and supervisors from across the North West Provinces’ Maquassi Hills and Matlosana Local Municipality, who completed their training as part of an ECD capacity-building initiative.

Through this initiative, about 800 children from the 15 ECD centres have reaped the benefits of improved care and education, laying a solid foundation for their personal growth and academic achievements.

Thandi expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am very grateful to have been part of this programme and for the lifelong learning I obtained within a year. I now understand children’s holistic development and how to promote learning to infants, toddlers and young children with confidence,” commented Thandi at the certificate ceremony, recently held at Reahola Preschool in Kgakala, Leeuwdoringstadt.

Facilitated by the Ntataise Foundation, this one-year programme commenced last July, with the purpose of uplifting and empowering ECD practitioners, as well as building sustainable ‘Centres of Excellence’. These centres are envisioned to offer quality, effective and efficient services to young children across the communities in the region.

“We expect that this programme will have a profound impact on the ECD centres and, more importantly, the lives of the children attending these centres – for many generations to come. The practitioners are now equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to create engaging and nurturing environments, focused on holistic development,” stated Claire Phutieagae, Community Liaison Officer for Bokamoso Solar, funders of this programme.

Topics covered during the training included Child Developmental Milestones for 0-5 years; Nutrition; Children’s Bill of Rights; Classroom Management and Administration; Lesson Planning; Daily Programme Implementation; and Effective Utilisation of Learning Resources.