Entries are still open for the South African Early Childhood Development Awards.
Considering the South African Government’s commitment to recognising and support Early Childhood Development (ECD), the South African Early Childhood Development Awards aim to raise awareness of the ECD sector’s goal to break the cycle of poverty.
The awards promote and recognise excellence, hard work, dedication and investment in the future of children by individual practitioners, community centres and organisations involved in ECD.
The National Development Agency (NDA), an agency of Department of Social Development contributes towards the eradication of poverty and its causes, is the custodian of the SA ECD Awards.
It has since been responsible for ensuring that practitioners at ECD centres are recognised for their contribution.
The awards highlight the need for a proper system of early childhood development, one that is integrated into its approach, by considering children’s health, nutrition, education, psychosocial and additional environmental factors within the context of their family and their community.
The annual ECD Awards initiative, which is the only one of its kind in South Africa, has been taking place since 2003.
This has been in partnership with the Departments of Basic Education and Social Development, South African Congress of Early Childhood Development, UNICEF, National Development Agency and recently the Department of Health.
The awards are in the following categories:
- Best ECD Practitioner of the Year
- Best ECD Centre of the Year
- Best ECD Trainer of the Year
- Best ECD Publication of the Year
- Best ECD Nutrition Programme of the year
- Best ECD Non-Centre Based Programme of the Year
- Best ECD Programme supporting Babies and Young Children with Disabilities
The ECD Awards categories promote
- The improvement of the quality of care, protection and development of children.
- Skills development of caregivers on caring for children and providing them with stimulating environments.
- The importance of early childhood development.
Entry forms are available from NDA Advisory Centres and provincial offices and from the SA Congress for Early Childhood Development.
The following organisations will also distribute entry forms in Gauteng:
- Jabulani Community and Development Mobile Truck,
- Katlehong Early Learning Resource Unit
- Motheo Training Institute Trust.
Closing date for entry forms is October 14.
Other Advisory Centre and provincial office contact details and addresses can be accessed on www.nda.org.za
All the information was confirmed by Lesego Ranchu of NDA.
