Integrated Capacity Building for ECD Practitioners

The Ntuzuma area is a deep rural area in KwaZulu Natal where unemployment is prevalent and the majority of households live below the breadline. There is a high incidence of HIV/AIDS and, consequently, a high number of orphaned children and numerous child-headed households. The average income earned by an individual who has no access to a grant is R150 per week. With such a high level poverty, many caregivers cannot afford to pay for their children to attend an Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme let alone to go to primary school.

Research has shown that quality protection, stimulation and learning opportunities provided at home by parents and caregivers or through ECD centres have a positive and long lasting impact on a child’s development. Conversely, the lack of proper early education in the formative years could mean that the child will have difficulty functioning as a productive member of society as an adult.

The vast majority of ECD provision is through community- or home-based ECD centres, most of which are not registered or subsidised by government and are poorly resourced. Educators are generally not trained or are only partially trained and receive little or no pay. Supervisors and Parents’ Committees of community-based ECD sites usually have minimal skills in managing their sites.

HOW THIS PROJECT HELPS

TREE proposes to run integrated ECD cluster programmes, where a range of stakeholders in each ECD site are trained. Approximately 10-20 ECD sites in a geographical area are clustered together for optimal implementation and sustainability.

The project will create awareness of the importance of ECD in these communities through advocacy and networking, not only for the benefit of young children, but also for the benefit of the wider community. In addition, ECD stakeholders will be equipped with the necessary skills to ensure continued sustainability through the delivery of quality and sustainable ECD training practices into ECD sites by assisting the group of practitioners to participate in ECD Training.

The range of skills courses offered as part of the project will include Basic Level 1 Course in ECD; Toy Making; Supporting Young Children affected by HIV/AIDS; Managing a Small Scale ECD Service; Committee Skills Course and a Positive Living Course. The courses will be staggered over a period of 12 months.

WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT THIS PROJECT

• TREE staff will work with community leaders, ECD forums/committees and local government departments to ensure buy-in for effective implementation and sustainability of the programme.
• Local communities are involved in the design and implementation of the programme and play an active role in the monitoring and evaluation of implementation strategies.
• Training Resources will be provided to community-based ECD site practitioners over the twelve month programme include training manuals, toy making materials, a First Aid kit and educational toy kits.
• Grouping of ECD sites in a geographic area means they can form a support system and share learning.
• The training for ECD practitioners is accredited and will allow beneficiaries to access further training or employment in formal schools as grade R teachers.

IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS

This project will be of direct benefit to 10 practitioners, 10 supervisors, and approximately 175 parents along with 350 children who are registered in the participating ECD sites. Effectively this project will have an impact on 545 lives in the Ntuzuma area.

Formalised skills training means practitioners will have the knowledge and skills to manage young children, and be able to transfer the knowledge gained to parents/caregivers so that they can better support their children. The ECD sites will thus be better able to prepare children for formal schooling.

TREE’s toy making course will enable teachers to construct improvised toys & equipment out of waste material which could be used to create income for the ECD site.

The expected life change

A funding grant of R 301,300 would make it possible for TREE to positively impact on the lives of 545 people.

Estimated direct life change is R522 per person.

ORGANISATIONAL CAPACITY

During its 25 years of existence, TREE has maintained a close relationship with its target population, resulting in a deepened understanding of the social issues associated with ECD. The organisation is recognised as one of the leading ECD organisations in South Africa, responsible for developing cutting edge integrated ECD programmes.

The organisation has financial reserves to support operations for 12 months. The organisation has recently established an endowment fund as a means to ensure financial sustainability over time and, as far as possible, pursues long-term funding agreements. Tree receives financial support in the form of donations from private individuals and funders. Additional income is generated from the SETA learnership administration fees they collect, government contracts and tenders. Although the toy shop generates a small portion of the overall income of the organisation – it is a successful venture in its own right generating turnover in excess of R600,000 annually in 2007 and 2008.

RISK PROFILE - Low

Key Strengths

• Concept: This approach ensures that there is very little dependence on TREE and empowers stakeholders to take ownership for their own development.

• Design: Clustering ECD sites in a geographical area and working in partnerships with community forums means the project is likely to achieve significant buy in and remain effective in the long term.

• Capability: TREE has over 25 years of experience in providing Training and resources for ECD practitioners and is considered one of the leaders in the sector.

• Control: The combination of partners that TREE has amassed over the years means that they are able to appropriate advice on best practice for each cluster.

• Sustainability: TREE works through the ECD forum already established in the area and insists on a high level of community and stakeholder involvement. This ensures that the project has a strong level of buy-in and continuity.

Key Risks

• Design: Although the project is well structured internally, there is a high probability that practitioners will drop-out due to transport problems or when they find employment outside of the project community.

• External: As the AIDS pandemic matures, there are likely to be an increasing number of orphaned children in South Africa which would put an extra strain on the existing ECD sites in the area. Unemployment in the area means that parents are unlikely to be able to afford the costs of quality ECD care for their children.