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Newsletter - December 2010
Content
- Heritage exhibition opening
- Features of the exhibition
- ECD seminar
- Baby Care Training Pilot completed
- ELRU publications featured on SABC 1
- Staff Profile: Jade Wasserman
Heritage exhibition opening
After many months of preparation by heritage specialists, and sterling contributions from staff and volunteers, ELRU launched Qhubeka, a permanent interactive exhibition showcasing the rich heritage of Early Childhood Development (ECD) practice in South Africa. The exhibition was officially opened on Monday, 18 October at ELRU's Lansdowne premises by Bonita Bennett, Director of the District Six Museum. The project was funded by the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund.
The exhibition celebrates South African ECD practitioners, mainly women, who rise above the challenges of desperate poverty, sickness and violence to educate and care for children.
ECD programmes collectively hold a rich heritage of locally developed knowledge and value systems. They comprise methods, skills and tools for promoting caring attitudes and teaching practice across cultures and in different settings.
Presenting the annual Helen Robb Lecture, keynote speaker Prof Kofi Marfo, Director of the Center for Research on Children's Development and Learning at the University of South Florida, acknowledged the fact that, through the work of ELRU and other organisations, a culture of solid programming for young children has grown in South Africa that is recognised internationally.
This exhibition is a work-in-progress and through it, ELRU hopes to encourage organisations working for children and families to document their own stories. The exhibition can be viewed by appointment only. Entry is free.
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Features of the exhibition
The exhibition title Qhubeka!, which means 'going forward', relates to the West African concept of sankofa. Sankofa means "it is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot". Applied to heritage, the idea of sankofa is that we should reach back and gather the best of what our past has to teach us, so that the past can inform us as we move forward.
This activist definition of heritage is reflected in the narrative themes of the exhibition and in the use of imaginatively recycled found objects included in the display.
ELRU provides more than just training in ECD practice. Our programmes are opportunities for healing and for restoring dignity and the moral and spiritual fabric of communities. Reflecting this, the exhibition room will also function as a space where teachers, carers and parents will gather regularly for retreat, reflection and re-energising.
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ECD seminar
The well attended two-day seminar that coincided with the launch of the exhibition presented a recurring theme of storytelling as a medium for conveying indigenous knowledge, culture and life skills to children.
Philippa Namutebi Kabali-Kagwa presented a captivating talk on how stories and storytelling illustrated her life-journey through many cultures and places.
Linda van Duuren and Thikam Pillay discussed the use of narrative in their work with children. ELRU's Research Director, Linda Biersteker, facilitated a discussion by representatives of member organisations of the ECD Learning Community.
The seminar programme was concluded with a panel discussion, chaired by Prof Marfo.
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Baby Care Training Pilot completed
The pilot of ELRU's revised Baby and Toddler Care training programme has been successfully completed. Thanks to the generous support of the Rolf Stephan Nussbaum Foundation, fourteen ECD practitioners were trained in techniques of stimulating babies and toddlers. The need to revise the training programme was confirmed during the provincial audit conducted by ELRU in 2009.
During their assessment of the baby care facilities at 35 ECD centres in Cape Town and on the West Coast, ELRU trainers Rafeekah Patel and Blossom Ngwevela found that:
"People did not use basic hygienic practice. It was clear that teachers lacked knowledge on how to care for babies as there were no materials or activities to stimulate them." (Rafeekah)
Babies and toddlers need developmentally appropriate experiences that will contribute to their holistic development. Interaction with adults is particularly important in the development of communication and literacy skills. Blossom noted that "older women, many of whom were illiterate, were responsible for caring for the babies and toddlers. While it was obvious that they loved the children, there was no fixed programme for them, and I did not see any toys or resources that helped teachers to engage with the children. There were no learning opportunities created."
Blossom also observed that higher fees charged for younger children might be causing ECD centres to prefer registering high numbers of babies and toddlers. This resulted in overcrowding and accommodation for younger children that was inappropriate, unsafe and unhealthy.
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ELRU publications featured on SABC 1
SABC 1 recently advertised for suitable children's publications to be featured on Ntunjambili, a YOTV children's programme that showcases published children's books to encourage children to read.
An ELRU publication, At School, What if …, was screened on 28 October. These multi-lingual children's readers encourage the reader to question common stereotypes and supports numeracy and life skills learning. Copies of these and other ELRU learning resources can be purchased directly from our offices. See Catalogue.
Azhar, Cindy and Antjie, the other ELRU titles chosen, will be featured on 30 December and 9 June 2011.
Staff Profile: Jade Wasserman
I started at ELRU in July 2010.
Before joining ELRU I was the Early Childhood Development co-ordinator for Ikamva Labantu. I helped upgrade and skill many ECD personnel and facilities in the Guguletu, Nyanga and Philippi areas. I was also involved in creating the 4 year ECD plan for the Department of Social Development's, Guguletu District Office.
I am glad to be part of ELRU because it is truly a special place to work. The organisation has a sparkling reputation. ELRU is very professional and the staff are a pleasure to work with. I think that ELRU's publications are amazing and I feel blessed to be a part of this fabulous NGO.
ELRU has allowed me to learn and grow from the many wonderful opportunities that it has given me over the past few months.
My vision for ELRU is to continue shining and exceeding all expectations in the ECD field.