Vision, mission and history of Sikhula Sonke
Children at one of the Sikhula Sonke supported ECD Centers in Khayeltisha.
Who we are
Sikhula Sonke ECD is a community-based organisation with a mandate to meet the need for quality early childhood development interventions in Khayelitsha. Early childhood development is defined as the “processes by which children from birth to nine years grow and thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, morally and socially.” (Education White Paper March 1995)
Our vision
Our vision is that every child in Khayelitsha has the opportunity to develop to his or her full potential in a safe, stimulating and loving environment. We see the parents, care-givers, community members and pre-school teachers in Khayeltisha being trained and supported to provide such an environment.
Our mission
Sikhula Sonke offers free early childhood development training and support to the parents, caregivers and pre-school teachers of young children in the Khayelitsha township of Cape Town, South Africa. Our programmes include:
The history of Sikhula Sonke
In the eighties and nineties Khayelitsha’s communities were in turmoil and there was a dire need for proper housing, in addition to health and educational facilities. In the early 1990’s Claremont Methodist Church responded to these needs. The church established its Social Impact Ministry and began building houses in the Harare area of Khayelitsha. At this time the plight of young, unschooled and vulnerable children became apparent to members of the church who were working in the township, and Sikhula Sonke came into being with the specific purpose of addressing these needs. Now nearly 20 years later, Khayelitsha remains one of the 22 identified Presidential Poverty nodes in South Africa, and we remain focused on seeing this community empowered.
Beliefs that guide our ECD (early childhood development) work:
Sikhula Sonke ECD is a community-based organisation with a mandate to meet the need for quality early childhood development interventions in Khayelitsha. Early childhood development is defined as the “processes by which children from birth to nine years grow and thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, morally and socially.” (Education White Paper March 1995)
Our vision
Our vision is that every child in Khayelitsha has the opportunity to develop to his or her full potential in a safe, stimulating and loving environment. We see the parents, care-givers, community members and pre-school teachers in Khayeltisha being trained and supported to provide such an environment.
Our mission
Sikhula Sonke offers free early childhood development training and support to the parents, caregivers and pre-school teachers of young children in the Khayelitsha township of Cape Town, South Africa. Our programmes include:
- Teacher training - Providing accredited training to ECD practitioners who run their own pre-schools
- Coaching and support - For ECD practioners, within the context of their pre-schools and at the Harare library resource centre
- Family and care-giver support - Providing training and support for families and care-givers in their homes - the Family and Community Motivator (FCM) Programme
- Community outreach projects - in specific communities in Khayeltisha, and for children who do not go to pre-schools
The history of Sikhula Sonke
In the eighties and nineties Khayelitsha’s communities were in turmoil and there was a dire need for proper housing, in addition to health and educational facilities. In the early 1990’s Claremont Methodist Church responded to these needs. The church established its Social Impact Ministry and began building houses in the Harare area of Khayelitsha. At this time the plight of young, unschooled and vulnerable children became apparent to members of the church who were working in the township, and Sikhula Sonke came into being with the specific purpose of addressing these needs. Now nearly 20 years later, Khayelitsha remains one of the 22 identified Presidential Poverty nodes in South Africa, and we remain focused on seeing this community empowered.
Beliefs that guide our ECD (early childhood development) work:
- We believe that all children have the right to be loved and cared for and to be developed physically, intellectually, emotionally, morally and socially.
- We believe that women are uniquely placed to protect and enforce the rights of children and that women need to be supported, encouraged, and equipped with the necessary skills to do so.
- We believe that by nurturing and building our children, we nurture and build our nation.
- We believe that all parents and caregivers of young children should be knowledgeable about early childhood development so that they can play an active role in nurturing and enhancing the development of the children in their care.
- We believe that our united efforts will significantly and positively impact on the future of our young children and afford them the opportunity to realise their potential, and in so doing, to secure the future of our country.
