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2024 Impact Report

Inauguration Project: Paint With Purpose

Paint with Purpose originated as a project aimed at addressing the need for enhanced practitioner training and classroom support. Faadiela Ryklief, the Founder and CEO, spent eight years in her previous nonprofit role collaborating with 28 Early Childhood Development (ECD) Forums, which encompassed over 600 ECD facilities and 1,000 practitioners. Her work took her to various areas, including Gugulethu, Nyanga, Samora Machel, Weltevreden, Mitchells Plain, the greater Athlone area, and Vredenburg. Practitioners expressed concerns about the lack of support in training and development workshops that are not included in the ECD NQF level training. ECD principals noted that even though they received support for ECD registration, they still felt insufficiently trained to create more interactive, stimulating, and innovative teaching experiences.

Fun playing with string

Learning about colour mixing

Exploring patterns

After performing a needs analysis for our project beneficiaries, we found that:

83% of respondents indicated that ECD NQF level training only somewhat equips practitioners with the additional skills necessary for enhancing teaching. However, they also emphasized the necessity for more skills training.
72% of Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers are either registered or conditionally registered. Despite this, the top three identified needs were:

1) Classroom resources (100% - all respondents cited this as their primary need)

2) Practitioner skills workshops (83.3% - identified this as their most significant need)

3) Nutritional support (66.7% - mentioned this as their main concern)

Additionally, 50% of respondents reported never having participated in workshops focused on creative play lesson planning and implementation, while the other 50% stated they attend very few workshops each year (1 to 3).

This analysis served as a catalyst for defining our project objectives and highlighting the needs within ECD facilities.

Implementation

The implementation structure of the project was scheduled from July 30, 2024, to October 2024, during which two early childhood development (ECD) facilities were visited each week. Each session at these facilities lasted for three hours, including 30 minutes for setup, two hours for facilitation, and 30 minutes for cleanup. A total of ten ECD facilities were visited, impacting approximately 350 children and 54 practitioners, leading to a total of 500 beneficiaries in the Heideveld area of Cape Town, located in the Cape Flats region. Each project session began with a warm-up involving icebreaker activities, such as movement or dance. The main body of the session focused on integrating music into art lessons, encouraging communication, creative play, and incorporating literacy, numeracy, and life skills concepts while adapting to the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) standards and STEAM concepts. To conclude, a cool-down session acknowledged individuality, creativity, and confidence. Additionally, after each visit, practitioners and parents received a copy of the lesson plan, allowing practitioners to learn more about integrated learning methods and develop their own lesson ideas. They will then implement the project's methodology in their classrooms, followed by a post-workshop evaluation with practitioners. Parents were also encouraged to apply the same methodology in activities at home.

The feedback from both practitioners and parents was overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing the transformative impact of the program. Practitioners noted significant improvements in children's engagement and enthusiasm during learning activities. They appreciated the hands-on approach and the practical nature of the lesson plans, which provided them with new strategies to enhance their teaching practices. The integration of music and art was particularly well-received, as it sparked creativity and fostered a joyful learning environment.

Parents expressed gratitude for the insights and resources shared through the program, highlighting how the activities strengthened their connection with their children and enriched their home learning experiences. Many reported observing increased confidence and communication skills in their children, which they attributed to the program's focus on interactive and holistic learning.

Building on the success of this initiative, plans are underway to expand the program to other areas within the Cape Flats region. The project aims to continue supporting early childhood education by providing ongoing training and resources for practitioners and parents, ensuring that the benefits of integrated learning reach even more children and communities. This expansion will involve collaboration with local education authorities and community organizations to tailor the program to meet the specific needs of different areas, promoting sustainable and inclusive educational practices across the region. By engaging with local stakeholders, the initiative seeks to cultivate a robust network of support that empowers educators and families alike. The program will emphasize the importance of cultural relevance in educational materials, ensuring that the content resonates with the diverse backgrounds of the children. Through these efforts, the initiative aspires to create a ripple effect, inspiring similar programs in other regions and contributing to a brighter future for all young learners.

Where We Stand Now

Our project is in need of additional funding to expand our reach to more Early Childhood Development (ECD) facilities. Currently, we are only able to conduct a limited number of sessions through our own efforts. Securing more funding will enable us to acquire additional resources for the project and provide partial compensation for our facilitators.

To ensure the sustainability of our initiative, funding will be allocated towards:

Increasing workshops for practitioners and parents that focus on creative learning, behavioral management, and innovative teaching techniques.
Conducting regular evaluations at ECD facilities to monitor implementation and impact.
Creating a handbook that showcases a variety of integrated creative learning methods.
Performing ongoing monitoring and evaluations through surveys and impact assessments.
Collaborating with more underprivileged ECD facilities throughout Cape Town.
Ensuring that practitioners gain well-rounded skills to enhance the quality of learning.
Providing children with access to diverse teaching methods that promote holistic development.
Equipping ECD facilities with necessary resources and skills to maintain a productive educational environment for children.

Since our establishment in 2023, we have positively impacted approximately 500 beneficiaries by providing tools for enhancing learning through creative integration. We are committed to building on this success by optimizing our project management and implementation strategies. While we recognize our financial limitations, with additional funding, our skilled team in early childhood development, curriculum development, and project management can continue to achieve more successful outcomes.

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