History of the Programme

The Early Childhood Development Programme serves Philippi's youngest citizens. ECD began in 2003 when Luyanda Bolisi, the son of Nolithemba Bolisi (principal of Noncedo Educare Centre) participated in SAEP's High School Programme. He encouraged his mother to approach Jane Keen about improving the conditions in her small, informal educare centre. Principal Bolisi was caring for roughly 95 children in a wooden shack lacking not only adequate educational tools, but running water, electricity and toilet facilities. The small staff she employed worked on a near-volunteer basis, as all of the centre's meagre resources went to the children. The centre was unregistered with the government and was therefore unable to receive state subsidies. Jane and Mama Bolisi began to collaborate and slowly saw conditions in the centre improve. It was Mama Bolisi who introduced Jane to the Safety Unity Crèche Forum, a support-group of community principals working together to solve similar problems.

Upon meeting the Forum and visiting Philippi's crèches, SAEP realized the dearth of sufficient service delivery for the community's underprivileged children and made it their mission to fill this gap.

SAEP's ECD Programme is Dedicated to Four Overarching Goals

First, SAEP aims to help ECD centres provide for the children's basic needs through infrastructure improvement, so that there is adequate space, proper sanitation and protection from the natural elements, in addition to the provision of nutritious daily meals. Donations of toys, educational equipment and materials are also sought and delivered to the centres.

Second, through direct assistance with the registration process, SAEP assists the educare centre staff and committees obtain Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) status and registration with the Departments of Social Services and Education. Registration allows the centres to receive government subsidies which enable the centres' long-term growth and self sustainability.

Third, SAEP encourages and supports ECD centres to move from being purely day-care facilities to providers of quality pre-school education to give the children a better chance of succeeding at primary and high school level. SAEP achieves this by placing volunteers at the centres to assist and mentor the staff and children, as well as the coordination of additional training for staff through qualified and accredited ECD resource organisations.

Finally, SAEP seeks to empower the principals and teachers with whom we work. The skills and knowledge we provide through training sessions, mentorship, and personal relationships enhance not only the capabilities but the self confidence of our partner principals. SAEP strives for these inspirational women to build self-sustainable educare centres as well as contribute to the overall movement of providing universal early childhood care and education in township communities.

SAEP Seeks to Support Needy Educare Centres for Pre-School Children by: 

• Empowerment and training of local pre-school staff and committees to reach their goals and to become financially self-sustaining;
• Assisting with fund raising and acquisition of resources and equipment;
• Linking the educare centres with training and resource organisations in order to equip the management and staff to provide a quality service;
• Assisting the educare centres to become registered and to apply for state subsidy where appropriate, in order to become financially sustainable;
• Providing training where not available elsewhere for project leaders in order to enable them to manage their organisations effectively and efficiently.