THE Wentworth Early Childhood Development Forum (WECDF) celebrated five years of success at the beautiful 305 Guest House in Amanzimtoti on 10 February.
The event was attended by all those involved in the forum, including ECD practitioners, government officials, police members, partners, teachers and volunteers. All came in support of WECDF as they entered another year of child care and education.
Guest speaker, Zanele Twala, the presidency, director: sector expert of ECD said as practitioners and teachers, they are the ones that shape the young mind of the future. She addressed the audience about a roadmap for ECD as part of the National Development Plan (NDP) which includes a social, economic or political plan. This includes a long-term process of starting with an importation of knowledge with the children. “We are a bruised nation and it is up to us to impart the knowledge which will change the path for future generations,” said Twala. Also as part of the NDP, a nutrition programme will be designed and implemented to benefit the women and children followed by an ECD care programme.
An ECD teacher can bare testimony to the heights she has reached through her training. From Empangeni, Maria Mthembu an avid runner and a passionate teacher, started her journey as a domestic for Doreen Hamiel who took her in where she worked in her creche, Excel Pre-Primary. Hamiel later sent her for ECD training when she noticed how well she got on with the children at the school. She was encouraged to complete her education and after two years she became a teacher for children from 0 to 5 years.
“It’s been 17 years since joining Excel and now I own many education certificates and I have grown as an individual. Creche gives children a solid foundation and I am proud to be a part of their growth. We are teaching generations. Without ECD practitioners education will not be the same. An investment in an ECD teacher is an investment in a child. My story of change is remarkable and now I have the honour of training other ECD practitioners and also the ECD sports programme,” said Mthembu.
