By 2030 South Africa needs an education system with high quality early childhood education with access rates exceeding 90%. South Africa’s NDP 2030 emphasise the significance of proper nutrition and diet especially for children under the age of three as it is essential for sound, physical and mental development

The aim of the ECD project is to increase young children’s access to quality ECD services in marginalised communities around the Eastern Cape. To make it possible for children to grow and develop to their full potential, thereby reducing inequality.

In partnership with the Centre for Early Childhood Development (CECD), the project is set to impact 35 ECD centres over a five-year period with an integrated and comprehensive approach. These ECD centres are from Ward 1, 4, 5, 6, and 15 of the Kouga Municipality. This covers Humansdorp, St Francis, Sea Vista and Oyster Bay. It caters for both informal and formal ECD centres.

ECD Centre staff and principals undergo Professional development trainings, educational material workshops and refreshers workshops to broaden their understanding and improving their facilitation skills. Infrastructure Developmental work of the ECD centres continues together with the Lunch Box Fund.

The project has created created job opportunities for both ECD centre facilitators and general workers.  Educational equipment has also been dispersed to most of the ECD centres.

Please see below the overall project activities that feed into creating the goal of increasing young children’s access to quality ECD services in the mentioned target communities.