When Jika/Citiq invested in rental accommodation in Hillbrow, one of the issues that arose was how parents residing in its apartments would care for their children while at work.
Many Hillbrow residents do not have extended families who can care for their children during the day, and they find the cost of hiring a full-time childcare provider way beyond their means.
The investors stepped in to provide a professionally-run and centrally based a day care facility that not only offers developmentally-oriented, culturally sensitive care, but also support for families and their children.
The idea is to create a welcoming, home-from-home environment to ensure that both parents and children feel comfortable.
The Ekhaya Day Care Centre caters for between 60 to 80 children from six months to six years, divided into four age-appropriate groups and supervised by general education teachers. The curriculum is based on understanding the ways in which young children learn best and supports their needs, interests and developmental tasks. The emphasis is on the interaction between the learning child and their social and physical environment.
“The idea is to create a welcoming, home-from-home environment to ensure that both parents and children feel comfortable,” said head of corporate services Vuvu Lepile. “Our objective is to prepare them for Grade R so the enrolment to the feeder schools nearby is seamless.”
Principal Nomtshia Sikwebu, who has more than 30 years teaching experience, says that often when the children first arrive, they are withdrawn and shy, but within a couple of months they soon integrate with the group and participate willingly.
“Family members are the most important people in the lives of young children. Our focus, therefore, is on creating strong family/staff partnerships to ensure that each child feels secure and is supported. This is essential for their growth and development. We also have to bear in mind that some parents are poverty stricken and illiterate, so face-to-face communication is critical,” said Sikwebu.
