Roger Federer Calls for Collaboration to Expand Early Childhood Development in South Africa
Submitted by: The Roger Federer Foundation Save to InstapaperJohannesburg, 12 February – Roger Federer, philanthropist and retired tennis champion, has urged business leaders to collaborate meaningfully with the government to ensure that every child in South Africa has access to early childhood development (ECD) services by 2030. Federer was speaking at a breakfast event hosted by his foundation in support of the Department of Basic Education’s 2030 ECD Strategy and the new Social Compact for South Africa.
The department is currently running a digital ECD mass registration drive and simplifying compliance requirements to expand access to quality early learning.
Federer’s Commitment to Early Childhood Development
“Through our foundation’s work in South Africa, we’ve been able to offer quality preschool education to more than 300,000 children. However, 1.3 million children are still waiting for opportunities such as playgrounds to play, building blocks and books to learn, and, most importantly, passionate and knowledgeable educators,” said Federer, whose mother is South African.
Studies have shown that investing in ECD yields significant returns of up to 13%. Maya Ziswiler, CEO of the Roger Federer Foundation, emphasised the long-term impact:
Business Leaders Urged to Prioritise ECD Investment
Nonkululeko Nyembezi, Chair of Business Leadership South Africa, who co-hosted the event, stressed the importance of corporate investment in early childhood development:
Collaboration is Key
Federer highlighted that achieving universal ECD access can only be realised through strong partnerships:
His foundation is collaborating with the Get It Done Foundation to expand the footprint of its School Readiness Initiative, which is already active in five provinces across South Africa.
Siya Kolisi Joins the Call to Support Early Learning
The event also featured a special guest, national rugby captain Siya Kolisi, who urged attendees to recognise the potential within every child. Kolisi, who benefited from an educational scholarship, joined Federer and his family in visiting two preschools in Mpumalanga that are part of the Roger Federer Foundation’s initiative.
About the Roger Federer Foundation
Established in 2003, the Roger Federer Foundation operates in Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Switzerland. The foundation focuses on early learning, empowering educators through a tablet-based system, and mobilising parents and communities to support early childhood education.
The foundation also advocates for SDG 4.2, which aims to ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education by 2030.
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