We are currently zooming in on our three core Thanda initiatives, what they mean and how they have changed over the few years.
We have already shared some of our Education Initiative programmes, and this week we are moving on to our Early Learning Initiative.
The programmes that form part of this Initiative are ECDs (Imbewu and our satellite ECDs), Fun Foundations Playgroups, Inclusion Programme and Baby Programme.
Today we are zooming in on our ECDs!
Our ECDs take place in beautiful, well-equipped classrooms. Imbewu is located at the Thanda Community Centre, and Ndunge is based in a colourful classroom just 4kms away. We’re excited to share that we are in the process of adding a second satellite ECD, but more will be revealed on that in the coming months!
Nokuthula is the ECD Programme Manager and she tells us a little more about Imbewu:
Imbewu means “the seed.”
The name’s significance is that when you plant a seed, you’re planting because you want the seed to flourish into a blossoming flower. Early learning is about forming the foundation of young children. We nurture the seed from birth in the Baby Programme and then continue to care for it and help it grow into ECD and Fun Foundations.
Thanda’s programmes focus on holistic development and the understanding that a seed will grow and flourish when watered and in fertile soil.
When Nokuthula joined Thanda there were just 10 children in the small space next to the kitchen. “There weren’t many toys, just one bin with toys mixed up with a variety of things. We started from scratch; we had no curriculum. It was a new adventure for me.”
Soon the ECD started to grow and expand (just like a blossoming flower).
“In 2015, we grew and moved into a bigger and beautiful ECD home/classrooms which were built at the Community Centre; this allowed us to increase our enrolment to 72 children. As of March 2022, we have 110 children in our Imbewu ECD.”
Nokuthula is someone who has loved children and babies since she was just a child herself. She always took care of the children around her and ensured that they were fed and happy. “I love my job. I love children. I am a very empathetic person. I think that helps me to be able to do my job –and that is important with ECD children.”
Her personality and innate understanding of children makes her a real asset to our ECD “I become friends with the children so they can feel safe, especially if I have noted that the child is not happy. By making the children feel safe there are many other things you can find out about the child’s well-being and general state of mind. That satisfies me just working with children and knowing that we are helping development.”
Nokuthula is proud of Thanda’s work and beams when she explains that she often receives word that the children who have been through Thanda’s ECD are excelling. She shares “We have received positive feedback from schools that have enrolled former Thanda ECD children. They tell us how well the children perform in class. My dream is for those sentiments to continue.”
With Nokuthula at the helm as initiative manager, a group of passionate and dedicated facilitators and a curriculum focused on learning through play and FUN, we look forward to seeing our ECD children blossom into flowers from the seeds planted at Thanda.
