A donation of equipment was made to local Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres at a handover ceremony held at the Lentegeur Administrative Offices in Mitchells Plain on Wednesday, 10 February 2016. Cllr Goawa Timm, ward councillor for Ward 76, provided funding of R30 000 for the purchase of learning materials for creches in her ward.

‘An investment in early childhood development is an investment in a child over the long term. Helping children to set a firm learning foundation will not only help to improve their academic performance but will also open up many other opportunities. Through the provision of this equipment, we want to ensure that our children get the best educational opportunities that we are able to offer them.

‘My challenge to the ECD facilities and the teachers who will be responsible for the learning materials is to ensure that you make good use of the donation and also upskill yourselves sufficiently to best serve our children,’ said Cllr Timm.

The donation included Lego, play dough, paint brushes and paint as well as mattresses. The beneficiaries included Holy Cross Educare, Eulalia Scott Educare, Didi's Educare, Leah's Little Footprints, Mandalay Educare Forum, Merrydale Pre-primary School, Springdale Pre-primary School, Jenny Morris Educare and Paradise 4 Kids.

Cllr Timm also indicated that funding has been set aside with the purpose of establishing an educational hub in Ward 76. A facilitation workshop will be offered once the project is ready to launch.

‘With the support of the Social Development and Early Childhood Development directorate, we will continue to support centres that are compliant with City’s ECD standards. For those not yet registered or compliant, we will walk alongside and assist them to achieve compliance,’ said Cllr Timm.