18 629 children have been reached through our programmes since 2005. Each year an average of 1500 children aged few months to 6 years are taken up in our partnered 35 ECD Centres.
Growing Kids is Ekukhanyeni’s centre-based ECD programme, focused on transforming early learning environments in under-resourced communities.
In Lawley, Kokotela, and Kliptown in Johannesburg, our beneficiary areas, many young children have historically had limited access to safe, structured, and developmentally rich early learning. Through our programme, Ekukhanyeni works with ECD centres to strengthen the full system around the child: quality learning, trained practitioners, nutrition, centre support, and pathways to school readiness.
Our approach is practical and community-rooted. We support centres to become nurturing spaces where children can learn, play, grow, and thrive, while also developing the practitioners and caregivers who shape their earliest years.
Early LearningECD TrainingNutritional SupportECD Center Support
Early Learning
Over 9000 children aged 3-6 years have been educated through our Early Learning classes.
Our Early Learning programme supports children in Grade RRR, Grade RR and Grade R to build strong foundations for school readiness and lifelong learning.
Through structured, play-based learning, classroom support and weekly educator coaching, Ekukhanyeni helps ECD centres create quality early learning environments where children can grow in confidence, develop key skills and prepare for the next stage of education
Each year over 1 000 children
are educated through these classes
Grade R classes launched in 2007 and Grade RR classes in 2012 are offered at our 40 partnered ECD Centres by the Educators who are capacitated and upskilled through the organisation’s training sessions. Both curricula are aligned with the National Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) for Grade R and the National Early Learning and Development Standards For Children, NELDS for Grade RR.
Each year, on average, 830 children are educated through these classes and is the only form of education that the children have received and are receiving in the communities we serve.
Monthly non-accredited Educator trainings are conducted with weekly one-on-one coaching and mentorship sessions by our ECD Team with the ECD Centre Educators to roll-out the Grade R and Grade RR curricula, thus bridging the gap between the extensive knowledge and skills learnt in the accredited ECD full qualification and its practical rollout in a classroom setting.
The classes run from January to the first week of December each year and follow government school terms.
- Ensuring quality Early Education for children 4-6 years through early learning classes
- Grade R
- Grade RR
- Nutrition Support
ECD Training
- Training and mentorship is offered to empower ECD Centre Principals and caregivers to provide early education and care to children in the ECD Centres
- Accredited training with the ETDP SETA for ECD Level 4
- Coaching & Mentorship
Nutritional Support
- Meal provision
- Establishment of naturally grown food gardens
ECD Centre Support
- Partnering with majorly underdeveloped fledgling ECD Sites to create safe & loving havens
- Facilitating ECD Centre registration with relevant government authorities
- Building institutional capacity of the ECD Centres in the areas of governance and financial management