Sikhula Sonke’s Mission Statement

Sikhula Sonke exists to meet the desperate need for quality pre-school education in Khayelitsha by training and empowering parents and Educare workers in Early Childhood Development.

Sikhula Sonke is firm in its belief that each child has the right to access interventions and services that will ensure that South Africa’s children are safe, well cared for and able to thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, morally and socially.

 The organisation focuses on building the skills and strengthening the capacity of formerly unemployed women who have established Early Childhood Development facilities within their local communities in Khayelitsha as well as parents and caregivers to nurture, protect and stimulate young pre-school children within a safe, caring and positive learning environment.

 Sikhula Sonke has secured accreditation from the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA) and offers training in ECD Core, Elective and Fundamental learning modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 1 and at NQF Level 4.

 In addition to providing accredited, outcomes-based, NQF-compliant ECD training for Educare practioners as well as parenting skills training and family support for parents or caregivers, Sikhula Sonke’s interventions are also geared towards facilitating and strengthening the implementation of ECD services at Educare centres under its auspices and ensuring their long-term sustainability by:

 ·         Providing on site support and monitoring,
 ·         Facilitating financial and organisational management training for Educare practitioners
 ·         Forging links between these Educare centres and prospective donors or groups of   people interested in assisting and supporting the centres, and
 ·         Facilitating access to or securing donations of ECD resources and educational equipment

 Sikhula Sonke’s interventions also include a School-Readiness Programme for Children in the Grade R Age Group.

Envisaged Impact

In addition to impacting effectively and positively on the quality of services and sustainability of the ECD sites within its geographical area of operation, Sikhula Sonke’s training and capacity building interventions impact meaningfully on the education and empowerment of women a well as the development of the community.

Sikhula Sonke provides access to educational qualifications, increased income generation and economic activity opportunities for women caring for children in Khayelitsha. These women become qualified Educare practitioners who are able to meet the appropriately high standards required of Educare centres by the Department of Social Development.

Affording young children access to a range of quality early childhood development processes and services, including early stimulation and nutrition, has many benefits. These include:

·          Holistic mental and physical development opportunities, which, simultaneously, ensure that young children are well cared for and protected, and are more readily able to achieve their full potential;

·          Lasting and impactful effects on the mental and physical capacity of children, their socialisation, safety and later progress and performance within the formal educational system. In this regard, early childhood development is said to be critical for providing the foundation for life-long learning and productive participation in life;

·          A reduction in later health and welfare costs to the state given that the early identification of learning difficulties and health challenges can be effectively and timeously addressed, and can prevent or reduce school drop-out rates;

·          In the HIV/Aids context, early childhood development services provide for the needs of young children and free older siblings from the responsibility of caring for these youngsters, thus allowing them to continue with their own schooling.