Fun is the cornerstone of learning… especially when it comes to children. Today we continue our dive into Early Learning as we share more about our Fun Foundations Playgroups, with a zoom-in on Dudu, the programme manager!
This is the story of how our Fun Foundations playgroups began.
The children of our Organic Farming Programme participants lived too far to attend any of our ECDs, and there are limited early learning opportunities in the community we serve. This meant that they instead had to accompany their guardians to the farm each day and entertain themselves while their guardians worked the fields.
Dudu, the Fun Foundations Programme Manager tells us, “Gogos had a hard time juggling looking after the children; most of the children in the programme are still in the early development stages. They would have to carry the children on their backs or have them with them at the field as they work. The Gogos could not juggle both farming and looking after the children.”
This was identified as an opportunity for Thanda to create a manageable and scalable intervention, and soon the Fun Foundations Playgroups, run by enthusiastic volunteers, was launched! These groups gather four days a week to sing songs and learn about shapes, colours and numbers. They also received a bowl of maize meal porridge in the morning and in 2021, we added a hot cooked lunch too.
Recently, this has started to evolve and the Fun Foundations groups have started to follow the same curriculum as our ECD classes, meaning that all of our Early Learning groups cover the same material and receive the same valuable lessons.
Dudu is elated with how the programme has grown. Having started at Thanda as an After-school facilitator in 2016, she too has grown and progressed into the position she holds today.
“I have always wanted to work with children, it’s a gift. My gift. Knowing my gift, I have wanted to develop my knowledge, so I have enrolled in a few short Education, and Child Development courses to improve my skills and knowledge.
Working at Thanda has broadened my spectrum because my skill set was based on child and youth development but now I understand the holistic approach of Early Childhood Development.
Being patient and having perseverance are important. A child needs love and care, and you could never attempt to do this job if you’re doing it half-heartedly. You have to give it your all because children can read that.”
Dudu is proud of her accomplishments at Thanda (as she should be) and she is happy when her hard work is acknowledged.
She also loves to hear about past Fun Foundations attendees “(I am proud when) I hear from Primary Schools in which Thanda children are enrolled. Their positive feedback makes it all worthwhile. There’s no greater feeling than hearing that our Thanda children are ten steps ahead and performing well in school.”
Dudu has not yet reached her peak and continues to strive to improve herself. “The hopes and dreams I have for myself are based in my love of knowledge. I would like to complete a degree in childhood development one day.”
We are excited to follow Dudu’s journey and to witness the changes she makes in children’s lives along the way.
