Personal message

Oceans8 is SA's first warm water ocean challenge, entirely for charity! On the 16th & 17th of June, I will participate in the 8 Mile event, swimming 4 miles on day 1 and 4 miles on day 2, for Singakwenza Early Childhood Education.

Oceans8 was started by five charities, DUCT, NSRI, Project Rhino, Singakwenza Early Childhood Education and WILDTRUST. The event aims to provide a reliable and sustainable flow of funding to a number of deserving non-profit organisations with a footprint in KZN.

For more info on the event, take a look at their website: https://oceans8swim.co.za/

Singakwenza, meaning "We can do it!" is a non-profit organisation focusing on Early Childhood Education. Less than half of our SA kids under five have access to Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs, despite this being the best time to invest in a child's education. Stimulation during these years determines the potential for holistic development, including number, language and emotional control - and most of this potential is built while a child is playing and exploring. 

The Singakwenza team trains practitioners, parents and caregivers at a grassroots level to provide fun, educational activities that enable young children to develop, through play, the foundation skills for learning, supported by resources made solely from recycling. These educational toys teach the same concepts as purchased toys but for zero cost.

Bread bags become skipping ropes, margarine containers become cars, yoghurt containers become shape sorters, and cereal boxes become maths games. All the parent or crèche teacher needs is a pair of sharp scissors and a marker pen, and they will be able to make everything they need to provide a fun-filled, stimulating environment from readily available packaging.

Singakwenza trains practitioners on-site at their crèches and helps to transform them from babysitters to facilitators who understand the role of play in early development. Their trainers work in each crèche one day a week for two years, teaching the practitioners how to educate their pupils using resources they make themselves. 

This ensures that the children in these centres enter school intellectually, physically and developmentally prepared. Their Occupational Therapy program provides that no child is disadvantaged by developmental delays, and their Basic Bookkeeping training helps each crèche to become a sustainable business. 

This program costs approximately R180 per child per month, but the generosity & value of the work they do far surpasses the monetary value.

Please join me in supporting the incredible work that Singkawenza is doing for our communities and our underprivileged kiddies - any donations would be hugely appreciated.

If you want to know more about Singakwenza, take a look at this quick Youtube video that encapsulates their incredible work and the huge impact they have on their communities.

• YouTube Video

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