Since opening its doors in 2017 COLT’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) Program has provided free, quality education to children living in impoverished communities in Athlone and Lansdowne, Cape Town. In 2014 the organisation commenced with the registration process, initially with the Department of Social Development, until 1st April 2022 when it was handed over to the Department of Education to administer. Our organisation received its certificate of registration from the Department of Basic Education in May this year. This means that as an ECD Centre we are operating legally and in compliance with the standards and policies of the department. The registration process has been an extremely costly, rigorous and complex process that has depleted the organisation’s capital. For the past 5 years the COLT committee has raised funds to cover operational and registration costs, however building renovations to meet compliance criteria for registration has been significantly more costly than anticipated.
Our appeal is to partner with private and corporate organisations to secure funding so that COLT can continue its amazing work with vulnerable and traumatised children. Quality Foundation Phase Education is critical for developing positive social and emotional behaviours, sound health and wellbeing, and numeracy and language skills. At COLT the child is the curriculum and we have found that the teachings learnt are being shared with parents and friends in their communities. According to a Stats SA report in December 2021, 3.5 million children under the age of 6 years do not have access to an ECD Program.
The story below is about one of COLT’s first learners and provides some insight into the kind of holistic education and support that children and their families receive.
Dino (not his real name) was one of the first children to start at COLT in 2017 when he was 5 years old. He returned to our Educare at the age of 9 years in 2021. An Occupational Therapist from the Department of Education assessed him and found that he was functioning at a 2 year level, possibly due to lack of stimulation or a developmental disorder. Counselling was given to his mother who is unstable and COLT teachers assisted her with applications for Birth Certificates and Identification documents. COLT teachers worked closely with the mother to ensure progress for Dino. Consistent communication, insistence on daily attendance, and developing clear boundaries at home and at the Educare for Dino was vital. With time, co-operation became solid and his mother came to the school bus each morning to give updates.
In 2022 Dino was placed in a local primary school in Grade 4 which was age appropriate, but he was functioning well below 6 years developmentally. He remained at the school, receiving support from the principal and COLT teachers. A psychologist’s assessment was completed and an application for him to attend the Mary Harding Special School in Athlone was opened.
There is a stigma attached to special schools in the community and his mother was not happy and shared that she and Dino would be teased. With education and counselling, she agreed to attend interviews and complete the application process. We are very proud to share that he has been accepted at Mary Harding.
COLT teachers have remained a point of contact and in May this year staff at Mary Harding called because Dino had not been attending school regularly and appeared unkempt. COLT teachers visited the home and discovered that his mother had tuberculosis and was too ill to walk with him to school. Dino’s stepfather has agreed to get him ready for school and walk with him. COLT transport fetches him after school and takes him home. His ill mother says that his keenness to learn and attend school is what keeps her going.
Children attending COLT receive:
- Free quality education
- Transport to and from home
- 3 nutritious meals a day, and pantry items to take home
- Holistic curriculum; play indoors/outdoors, gardening, yoga, breathing, baking, arts and crafts
- Outings and winter holiday program
- Social support for parents
- Assistance with primary school placement
- Aftercare program for past learners
Request for Donations
COLT is a non-profit organisation and relies on donations for All of its funding. NPO registration No: 149-100 NPO.
Average monthly expenses are R 26 000
We would like to take this opportunity to call for monthly pledges in support of the Educare. Know that your donation will help us serve these children in need.
COLT Banking details
Bank: Absa (savings account)
Name: Children of Light Educare Trust
Account No: 93 2207 3615
Branch: 632005 (Claremont)
Reference: Name surname and educare or transport or general
SWIFT Code (for international donors): ABSAZAJJ
Donate now via Payfast http://colt.org.za/donate/
Kindly email your confirmation of payment to Devi at info@colt.org.za
