Transform 7 South African Preschools for 450+ Kids

Joyful Babies ECD Centre in Gompo Town, Eastern Cape joined the Community Early Childhood Development (ECD) Network in 2013, receiving teacher training, materials for learning and play and nutritional support. This allowed the centre to grow and thrive. However, three years into the program, the ECD centre began to struggle.  Enrollment fell from 150 to only 22 students and staff retention and centre management suffered as well. In partnership with Masibumbane Development Organisation (MDO), South Africa Partners and other stakeholders, efforts to get the centre back on track have been ongoing. Since 2017, the following policies have been implemented to ensure the centre’s success: 

Monthly Meetings: Collaboration between South Africa Partners and MDO introduced the importance of monthly meetings to serve as a platform to address challenges Joyful Babies has experienced as a centre. Establishing these meetings has empowered the practitioners to develop strategies to improve enrollment, staff retention, marketing and other obstacles.  

Assistance from University of Fort Hare Students: Joyful Babies has also partnered with The University of Fort Hare Nursing School to improve childhood care and increase enrollment numbers. Students from Fort Hare have trained ECD teachers to monitor children’s growth and development to identify potential children in need of clinic referrals. Their assistance has greatly benefitted the centre and has improved the quality of care for children attending Joyful Babies.  

Increased Enrollment: Prior to seeking technical expertise from South Africa Partners and MDO, the number of children enrolled in Joyful Babies preschool was only 33 students. Mentorship helped the centre devise short and long-term plans for the organisation and implement a new marketing strategy. Since, enrollment has more than doubled and Joyful Babies is currently caring for 72 children.  

The above collaborative interventions have resulted in increased parent involvement and improved management of Joyful Babies ECD Centre. Partnership with the Community ECD Network has made it possible for the centre to host workshops, assess child progress, improve financial and classroom management and better monitor the growth and development of the children they care for each day. 

We are pleased and excited to share the wonderful progress in transforming into a true centre of early childhood education. This work has only been possible because of supporters like you. Thank you for your generosity towards this important project!