Providing Life-Changing Education Infrastructure for South African Schools thanks to Partnerships
The education sector in South Africa faces many challenges, but one of the biggest is a lack of safe and effective infrastructure for early childhood development (ECD) centers. On 17 February 2023, we celebrated a huge achievement with Breadline Africa, a fellow non-profit organization, as they reached their 1 000th infrastructure unit, this time aiding a preschool that is supported by GROW: Pooh Bear Educare in Delft, Cape Town.
Pooh Bear Educare was established in 2009 by Michelle Davids, who is passionate about caring for the children in her community. Running the facility from her home was not ideal. The process stretched her family’s meagre resources to the limit, so Michelle approached GROW for assistance with her education programme and our partner Breadline Africa for assistance with building a new centre. And so the journey began.
Breadline Africa has made a significant impact by providing 1 000 units of educational infrastructure to poverty-stricken communities to date. They believe that every child has the potential to do something amazing, but it all starts with a supportive environment.
Collaboration Key to Improving the Education sector in South Africa
Tracey Chambers, CEO of GROW Educare Centres, stressed the importance of partnerships between non-profit organizations in the ECD sector:
“By working together, rather than in silos, we are maximizing impact for children and small business owners in South Africa.”
One of the keys to Breadline Africa’s success in this specific venture has been their collaboration with organizations like GROW Educare Centers and MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet. This partnership allows each organization to play to their strengths, maximizing the impact for ECD owners, teachers, and children. GROW provides support and a quality education program, while Breadline Africa provides the necessary infrastructure improvements. And with generous funding from MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet, Pooh Bear Educare in Delft, Cape Town was able to receive three new classrooms and a jungle gym, finishing a process that began in 2018, when Pooh Bear Educare received a 60m2 prefabricated classroom and two 6m containers converted into a kitchen and toilet facility and making a big difference in the quality of education they provide.
MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet General Manager Pieter Twine adds that their program members are making a huge impact through their everyday shopping by nominating organizations like Breadline Africa as beneficiaries.
Four more preschools to benefit
Thanks to the partnership between Breadline Africa, MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet and GROW Educare Centres, four more preschools will benefit from infrastructure upgrades before the end of March 2023. They are
- Ravensmead Educare, Western Cape
- Kwandamangugu Creche, KwaZulu Natal
- Sinethemba Creche, KwaZulu Natal
- Bokamoso Creche, Gauteng
Hope for the next 1 000!
The provision and renovation of containers and prefabricated units by Breadline Africa has made a huge impact on the education sector in South Africa. With continued collaboration and partnerships within the education sector, there is hope for even more ECD centers to receive the support they need to provide quality education to children in need.
