Early childhood development (ECD) in disadvantaged areas of South Africa is taking centre stage during Mandela Month with the handover of the first batch of 27 newly constructed ECD centres by Ford South Africa in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Department of Basic Education.
This legacy CSR project forms part of Ford’s Centenary celebrations in South Africa, with a total of 100 ECD centres being constructed through this initiative. Funding has been provided by Ford South Africa, and the project is being implemented by the Nelson Mandela Foundation under the guidance of the Department of Basic Education, which is identifying ECD centres in need of new facilities. Ford Credit has also contributed funds to this initiative. The new ECD centres are being built to replace existing nursery schools, pre-schools, and ECD facilities that are under-resourced, dilapidated, and not compliant with the government’s health and safety requirements.
“Nelson Mandela highlighted the importance of education as a means of empowering and uplifting the youth, which ultimately creates a brighter, more prosperous future for the country as a whole,” said Neale Hill, president of Ford Motor Company Africa. “We are honoured and privileged to be supporting Madiba’s legacy and love for the children of South Africa by partnering with the Nelson Mandela Foundation to build 100 early childhood development centres across the country.”
To date, 27 ECD centres have been completed and handed over to communities. One in Gauteng, 14 in KwaZulu-Natal and 12 in the Eastern Cape, each comprising sturdy brick and mortar buildings made up of classrooms, a kitchen, toilet facilities and a sick bay. This has already benefitted 1 075 children, with the remaining 73 centres either under construction or in the planning phases.
“These bright and colourful new ECD centres replace the many woefully inadequate shacks, huts and tired old buildings that served as informal nursery schools, daycare centres and pre-schools in impoverished communities for many years,” said Hill. “We have been amazed at the dedication and resilience the teachers and community members have shown in providing what early learning opportunities they could, despite these incredibly difficult conditions.
“It’s truly heartwarming to see the impact that the new formal ECD centres have made in transforming and uplifting these communities, and improving the learning opportunities for the children so they can thrive and prosper,” Hill said.
In addition to benefitting from the new facilities, the establishment of the formal ECD centres now enables the beneficiaries to obtain financial support from the government, further enhancing the quality of education in disadvantaged communities that need it most.
“The Foundation’s partnership with Ford has yielded tangible outcomes for community upliftment and enhancing dignity for young children. Partnerships like these are imperative as they bring us closer to addressing the inequities faced in our society,” said Professor Verne Harris, acting CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
One of the newly completed facilities is the Bophelo Daycare Centre, located in Mamelodi, near Ford South Africa’s head office and Silverton Manufacturing Plant in Pretoria. The facility cares for 62 children from the Mamelodi community, and was formally handed over with a commemorative plaque unveiling on 29 July, 2024.
Principal of Bophelo Day Care Centre, Lily Mokwena, said: “I am very happy, and very grateful for the things you have done here at Bophelo Day Care, and the parents are so happy! The new building is nice and big, and will greatly improve the care and learning we can provide for the children.”
Supporting education at all levels
In addition to the 100 ECD centres that cater for the youngest learners, Ford’s legacy CSR projects for its Centenary year in South Africa includes an innovative project to transform 100 shipping containers into fully equipped maths and science laboratories for disadvantaged primary schools around the country. This project is being conducted in partnership with the Gift of the Givers Foundation, and is jointly funded by Ford South Africa and Ford Philanthropy (formerly the Ford Motor Company Fund).
Furthermore, Ford Philanthropy is awarding 100 scholarships to highly motivated young South Africans from impoverished communities who are enrolled in technical high schools, as well as technical and vocational colleges. The aim is to promote learning in STEM-related careers, including the mechatronics, autotronics, millwright and electrical trade fields.