Director's AGM Address

Freda Brock

ELRU is in an extremely exciting time in its history. There is huge pressure on government to scale up programmes in order to reach more young children. We are well positioned, as significant government and donor agencies see ELRU as a valuable partner in scaling up.

Since December last year, we have been in a process of organisational development to ensure that systems and teams are strong and ready for developments as they arise. We are not 'starting new'. ELRU is robust. We have experience and strong leadership throughout the organisation.

The training landscape is changing dramatically. In striving to build the capacity of public institutions, Government is effectively shrinking the role that NGOs can play in teacher training and support. Fortunately in the WCape ECD is a priority for Social Development and local government. There are opportunities for engaging around younger children and the community based ECD centres. For instance, we are providing teacher support programmes through mentoring, on site support and materials development. However, there is the possibility that the education department might act on its curriculum responsibility for children from birth to four in ways that exclude the contribution of organisations such as ELRU.

ELRU's approach to improving quality and extending reach is to pilot new approaches for different contexts, and then to support other organisations to adapt these ways of working in their own programmes. For instance, home based approaches are scaling up rapidly and the FCM model is receiving attention - both as a component of other services, and as a stand-alone service. In the Sobambisana project we seek to provide some evidence of impact and to document some of the issues that are key to quality. In the course of our FCM work we are finding more issues that need exploration, and we are beginning to formulate some questions for future research projects to be undertaken in the next three years.

This year the annual report profiles the ECD Heritage Exhibition. Partly, the exhibition is a tribute to role models who infused a particular culture in the sector over three decades. But it also embraces the spirit of Sankofa - which reminds us that in making new paths toward transformation we need to reflect on our past and carry forward things that should not be forgotten.

In closing I need to thank all ELRU colleagues, the board and our partners for success of the past year. Thanks colleagues, for all the preparations for this AGM - the report and the financial statements, the catering, housekeeping and admin. Special thanks to family members and friends of ELRU staff - there have been many late nights and weeks away from home. We can focus on children and their needs because of your support and understanding.

May I also extend my warmest personal thanks to all our partners and friends for the road shared in the last 17 years.