It's a Go for Debenek!

Date Released: Wed, 29 June 2011 14:20 +0200

In July 2008 CSD undertook to train 20 ECD practitioners (Level 4) in Debenek, Keiskamma Hoek, about 130 km from Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. Due to the distances and the extreme poverty and unemployment in this area, CSD did the training at a Community Hall in the town. This entailed the CSD facilitator travelling to Debenek once a month to conduct contact sessions lasting for 5 days. In addition these practitioners had the opportunity to visit well-functioning ECD centres in Grahamstown that allowed them to link the theory and practical component. Following the end of the course practitioners reflected on what they have learnt. The following are excerpts from the journals:-

“ At first I did not know such a thing as ECD existed…”
“We are no longer just making the children sing for the whole day, sleeping and eating when they feel like it”;
“I know now that there is a daily programme I need to follow”;
“Teaching is now meaningful and is based on the National Curriculum”;
I am able to create a learning environment that has many stimulating activities”

The community of Debenek have, since then, approached CSD to consider training a further 20 ECD volunteers based in various crèches/day-cares or pre-schools in the community.
Thanks to funding from the DG Murray Trust, CSD will be able to conduct a second series of training with new ECD practitioners. What is different this time is that an integrated development module will be used in the training. Not only will ECD practitioners be trained but community members that are already active or wanting to get involved in the pre-school will now have the opportunity to undergo development practice training. This will also allow them to get involved or establish their own community development projects like Self-Help Groups. CSD’s approach to ECD training is the fact that education of the child cannot be done in isolation from the parents and the community, at least in a South African context.

Photo:  Ruth and Ida addressing the ladies of Debenek.