South Africa: Successful early childhood education program
The situation for many young people in the townships of Nelson Mandela Bay is characterized by poverty and a lack of prospects. The number of HIV infections is high. Many children do not receive the support they need to develop appropriately for their age.
This challenge is being addressed by the project partner “Ubuntu Pathways,” supported by Terre des Hommes . The Ubuntu Center in the Zwide township includes a small clinic, counseling rooms, and a section for the schooling and vocational training of disadvantaged children and young people in the district. A particular focus of the program is the promotion of early childhood education.
Your support for strong children!
Early shortage, late consequences
The first years of life are crucial for a child's development. A lack of nutrition or a failure to nurture their abilities can significantly impair their learning capacity.
This is where the early childhood education program offered by project partner Ubuntu for children up to the age of five comes in. Age-appropriate learning activities include, for example, learning colors, letters, and numbers. The daycare center offers children many opportunities to play, do crafts, and paint. Sports activities support the development of the boys and girls' motor skills. The little ones also learn about the animals and plants in their environment. Ubuntu also takes care of the children's medical needs and provides regular meals.
Since the program's launch, Ubuntu has achieved a remarkable success rate: all children have successfully entered primary school thanks to the program's focus on physical, cognitive, and emotional development and attend classes regularly. The feedback from families has also been very positive: they witness their children's progress firsthand and support them at home. This, in turn, motivates other parents to enroll their youngest children in the Ubuntu kindergarten.
Questions for Claudia Berker, Terre des Hommes consultant for Team Africa
"It's not just about academic learning..."
Education and training for children is a central concern of Terre des Hommes . What role does early childhood education play in this?
The first seven years of a child's life are the most crucial phase for their physical, mental, social, and emotional development, as 95 percent of brain growth occurs before the age of six. A lack of nutrition, affection, security, and stimulation during this period can cause deficits in a child's learning and developmental process that are difficult to correct later.
"This gives children a better starting point than children without such support."
What experiences have you had with the program?
In projects offering early childhood education, nearly all children achieve the officially defined preschool development goals. This gives these children a better starting point for their future schooling and careers than children without such support. However, the work is not solely about academic learning: children in these projects demonstrate good social skills, creativity, and the ability to express their wishes and concerns. Therefore, project partners like Ubuntu incorporate all aspects of life and development, including nutrition and working with parents.
Does early childhood education also play a role in other terre des hommes projects?
Our partner organizations provide early childhood education for children in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Mozambique, as well as in Myanmar, India, and northern Iraq. This support is a crucial component of our program work, contributing significantly to greater equality of opportunity.