A National Database of ECD Forums

Umncedi is an ECD Resource Hub that provides ECD Centres a Small Grant of R15 000 for the development of their ECD Centre. This is to support barriers to registration and to support lack of resources. ECD Centres use the grant to improve their infrastructure, buy learning materials, renovate, buy stationery etc, a lot of times, this is for them to qualify to be registered and qualify for DBE subsidy. Through a partnership with Book Dash, after receiving the grant, we deliver a pack of books to the centre for the children to take home.

Having travelled and engaged ECD Centres in all nine provinces, we are developing a Network of ECD Forums in South Africa to map out ECD centres on the ground on Municipal and District level. We connect early learning programmes (ELPs) to relevant ECD content and establish supportive resource sharing communities. Map early learning programme forums, and establish communication channels to communicate sector news and relevant resources with ECD forums and ECD principals. We host 9 provincial WhatsApp Groups where we share information and resources related to the sector.. This is also to connect ECD organisations so that it is easy for them to reach ECD Centres where they are. We support existing and new philanthropic and corporate social investment in ECD by describing existing barriers to quality and sustainability for early learning programmes, and demonstrating opportunities for increased investment.

Map resource and training organisations who support early learning programmes. Support the distribution of materials for early learning programmes, and ensure that programmes are supported to use these materials. Currently we are exploring different forms of partnerships for resource distribution and information sharing, working closely with Bana Pele to support the Mass Registration Drive by sharing the relevant information and the Real Reform for ECD on a Local Government Strategy to engage ECD Centres and find ways to solving issues regarding Municipal Red Tapes.