36m² prefabricated classroom with toilet facilities
Date Launched
10 October 2022
Location
Atlantis,
Cape Town
No of children
80 children
Year started
2017
Impact achieved
•This project, which marked Breadline Africa’s 900th infrastructure placement, will significantly improve the learning conditions for the 80 children enrolled at Nobuntu ECD and Disability Centre in Atlantis, Cape Town.
•Prior to the placement of the new classroom, Nobuntu had only one classroom for all 80 children. This resulted in the children being split into groups attending on alternating days. Since the Covid-19 lockdowns, children with disabilities could no longer attend the school and are visited by teachers at home. With the provision of the new classroom (with toilet facilities), the school can safely and comfortably accommodate all the children, including those with disabilities. A new jungle gym was also provided to make playtime special for the children.
•Minister David Maynier stressed the importance of foundation phase education: “The foundation phase grades are the make-or-break phase in our schools. If a child falls behind at this point, catching up later is so much more difficult. We know that children who attend ECDs have a head start. For this reason, Western Cape Education we will be creating 500 permanent Grade R teacher positions here in the Western Cape.”
•Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis congratulated Breadline Africa on achieving this special milestone, “This classroom will allow children living with disabilities an opportunity to attend a really great foundation phase learning opportunity. We want every child born in this city to feel a sense of hopefulness, that this is a good place to live and grow up.”
•Long-term, the impact of this infrastructural support is hugely important. In order to qualify for registration as a pre-school (ECD) facility and to receive government funding, Nobuntu ECD and Disability Centre needs to comply with infrastructure safety standards and other set out regulatory norms. The classroom and toilet, funded by Breadline Africa individual donors, will help them on the pathway to registration and long-term sustainability.
