Kutlwano Early Childhood Development Centre (ECDC) is officially open to children from birth to the age of seven in Greenpoint, Kimberly. The centre can accommodate 60 children and is disability friendly, complete with three classrooms, a kitchen, a principal’s office, a sickbay, ablution facilities, as well as educational and play equipment.

“The first thousand days of a child’s life are crucial in laying the foundation for optimum health and development that the rest of the child’s life will be heavily dependent on. We are proud to have contributed towards ensuring that the spaces children are in during these formative years foster creativity, provide a safe environment, exceptional care, nutrition, and education that helps them build the foundation for their future,” says Paul Miller, CEO of Cipla South Africa.

Originally housed in an informal shelter, the facility has undergone a series of upgrades to ensure the learners’ safety and wellbeing, as well as their cognitive, emotional and physical development needs, can be better met.

The R4 million revamp, transforming the facility into a state-of-the-art mobile structure, was made possible by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) in partnership with the Department of Social Development at national and provincial level, the Cipla Foundation, and the Sol Plaatje Municipality.

The Department of Social Development has supported the programme by providing fencing, groundworks, expertise and equipment appropriate for early childhood development, while the Cipla Foundation contributed by developing and managing the construction of the safe Ajuga structure that houses the ECDC.  The Sol Plaatje Municipality donated the land and provided municipal services to the centre.

Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu says: “We are grateful for the public-private partnership that has made the Kutlwano ECDC a success. Early childhood development is a comprehensive approach to programmes and policies for children from birth to seven years of age, and it is supported by legislation. Its purpose is to protect the rights of children to develop their full cognitive, emotional, social, and physical potential in the first four years of their lives. Therefore, ECDCs are a priority for all children to attend and gain a head start to a life full of opportunities.”

Through the support from the Department of Social Development, the centre has since been registered with the Department of Education as stipulated in the Children’s Act, and will receive a grant towards its operational costs.

Mpumi Mpofu, Chief Executive Officer of Airports Company South Africa, adds, “Greenpoint is right at the doorstep of Kimberley Airport. As a caring corporate citizen, it is our responsibility to support the education of pre-schoolers in this community as it is a key enabler of sustainable socio-economic development. Through Kutlwano Early Childhood Development Centre, we are assisting to facilitate learning in a manner that promotes full learning capacity.”

The partnership with the municipality forms part of delivering much-needed services to the impoverished community of Greenpoint. “It is our responsibility as the municipality to support early childhood development and promote education as outlined in our IDPs [integrated development plans]. We are encouraged by the support from the private sector,” says Executive Mayor of Sol Plaatje Municipality, Kagisho Sonyoni.

The construction of Kutlwano ECDC also provides much-needed job opportunities to a community that has a high level of unemployment and will provide a good schooling foundation for the children of Greenpoint.

The official opening ceremony was held recently, where Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu handed over the centre to Principal Jillian Cronje and educators.