On 9 Dec 2021, 82 leaders from 41 Early Childhood Development centres around the Township of Mathibestat in the Province of North West graduated from government accredited training. The training was sponsored by The Townships Project, a Rotary Foundation district grant from Rotary District 9400, Sesego Foundation and Pat Francis Trust.
The training was conducted over 6 weeks, with 2 leaders from each centre alternating one week on and one week off, so that each centre could remain open while one of its leaders attended training. Each of the centres also received a desktop computer, sponsored by Busch South Africa, a family business based in Germany. The Townships Project, founded by Rotarian Martha Deacon (based in Canada and also a member of the Rotary eClub of Southern Africa) has invested in hundreds of small businesses since 1998. This training fits in with the mission of The Townships Project, which is to overcome poverty by supporting small businesses in South African township areas. Each of these ECD centres qualifies.
The training was held at Covenant Garden Estate, launched in 2014 as the vision of Rotarian Dr. Pat Francis. Dr. Francis, a Torontonian, is a member of the Rotary eClub of Southern Africa. It provides care and extra classes for learners in the area, feeds thousands of children per year and continues to be a beacon of hope in Mathibestad.
Everyone involved feels privileged to be part of this sustainable project. The investment in education and skills transfer is an excellent investment in the future of South Africa.
