Some hard working women from Alex were treated to a celebration after graduating.
Amalgamated Beverage Industries (ABI) celebrated the graduation of 232 early childhood development (ECD) practitioners and cooks, among them women from Alexandra.
ABI is the soft drink division of South African Breweries. And has invested more than R11 million since the inception of the development project in 2010.
The graduation event also saw a first for ABI, the launch of an alumni programme for 250 ECD practitioners and 53 cooks.
Over the past five years, there were 649 female recipients who received extensive training; as well as infrastructure investment in and growth of the development centres from 19 to 144, which
are instrumental in impacting 10 455 children.
The ECD alumni programme, run together with partners, Kelru, and the Department of Social Development, would ensure the continued support for these teachers as ABI concludes its early childhood development programme.
“ABI will be able to maintain relationships with our beneficiaries through the alumni programme,” said ABI director of corporate affairs, Tshidi Ramogase.
“It will also allow us to keep them up to date with changes in their field and ensure the maintenance of our considerable infrastructure investment.”
In terms of the programme, ABI staff would also visit the 144 development centres periodically to ensure that the learning was still being applied and to inspect premises for any minor renovations needed.
The training for graduating practitioners, who attended classes from 2012 to 2014, was provided by South African Qualifications Authority; and the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority accredited supplier.
The practitioners received a level-two qualification, giving them a head start towards the government-required level-five qualification.
