Sikhula Sonke's team spent the day at Silvermine Nature Reserve to celebrate the women in the organisation. The day started early with a hike up to the fire lookout just below Elephant's Eye on Constantiaberg. The energetic continued onto the Elephant's Eye cave to admire the beautiful views over Cape Town's southern suburbs, with Somerset West and the mountains in the distance. 

The ladies walked back down the mountain to partake in a lunch spread prepared by the men, followed by some games beside the dam. Sikhula Sonke truly appreciates the amazing ladies who give so much of their time, energy and love to the children of Khayelitsha!

It's simply amazing to see what partnerships and joining resources can accomplish! Thank you to Breadline Africa and HomeChoice for being an integral part of this journey. It is so exciting to see lovely new ECDs being constructed on what was wasteland or unused land before. Two new preschool classrooms have been donated and will be opened on 18 July 2019. 

Community dialogues are a way of bringing together parents, caregivers and individuals from local communities into a public forum where they can interact with official representatives from different organisations and stakeholders. At Sikhula Sonke, we facilitate community dialogues between parents/ caregivers and Metro Police, Fire and Rescue, Social Services, ECD leaders and representatives of other organisations invested in the wellbeing of children. 

These dialogues are safe spaces to exchange information, raise questions and comment on the health of each community. It's our desire that the thoughts and concerns of each party are heard, and that change is initiated from these sometimes intense, sometimes light but always important gatherings. 

Sikhula Sonke ECD would like to thank our partners for their contribution to the Child Protection Awareness campaigns during the child protection week, and their practical involvement in the World Play Day which saw 1068 children playing at the same time in a public space.

Our deepest gratitude goes to City of Cape Departments: Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, Fire and Rescue, Metro Police, Road Safety Management, Environmental Health, Community Development-Local Government-Social Development, Come and Play. Thanks also to the Provincial Government- Dept Of Health, Government Communications and Information Systems, South African Police Service, SAPS Transport Services, Traffic Education-Traffic Department, and Micheal Mapongwana Hospital.

Special mention must also be made of our community stakeholders, including Safe Hub - Amandla Football, Khayelitsha ECD Forum, Siyaqhubeka Area Forum, Sinejongo Area Forum, Harare Youth Desk, Carel Du Toit and many more.

Our greatest appreciation to the sponsors of the events, our one and only Harare Hill-Top Spar just opposite our offices, Boxer Superstore in Nonkqubela-Site B and Albany. We thank Home Choice who covered the heads of the little ones with warm green beanies just in time for the icy winter weather. Many of the children live in very cold shack and walk to school and back - the beanies are worn with great pride!

Last but definitely not least, our thanks to all of our funders and donors whose ongoing contributions play such a vital role in making what we do possible. 

- Mdebuka Mthwazi, Executive Director

World Play Day is celebrated on 28 May each year. This year we are marking this special day by hosting a picnic for Makhaza preschools and preschool-aged children and their caregivers at Khayelitsha Wetlands Park. To book your spot please email us or phone our offices on  +27 (21) 224 0807 or +27 (0) 81 258 7359.

This is Khayelitsha's biggest picnic for kids and we'd love to see you there!
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A child today, a world changer tomorrow. Pause for thought.