Children learn all about culture through dancing
Local traditional dancers entertained and taught children about the various cultures in Nkomazi at a special Heritage Month event at Emmanuel Holy Church in Mzinti on September 27.
MZINTI – Several cultural dance groups were invited to perform for children from local early childhood development (ECD) centres at a Heritage Month event at Emmanuel Holy Church on September 27.
The Department of Social Development organised the event to promote cultural learning among the children in Ward 16 and 19.
The Mzinti, Skhwahlane, Madadeni and Magudu, Sbange and Mgobodzi traditional dance groups performed.
Queen Nyalunge, a social worker supervisor of the department, said that they aimed to teach children about the different cultures from a young age.
“ECD deals with developing a child emotionally, socially, physically and culturally, building a foundation. When they grow up, they must know who they are and where they come from,” she said.
Nyalunge explained that Nkomazi is an area with cultural diversity due to the influx of people from Mozambique and Swaziland. She said that they ensure the ECD curriculum included cultural learning everyday by tackling each culture in turn.
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ECD, in terms of the Children’s Act, is not only about teaching children between the ages of 18 months and five years, but also to protect them from abuse and neglect.
The Department of Social Development has five forums in Nkomazi, which supports the 130 registered Educare centres. They are also partnered with RCL Foods’ Leave No Young Child Behind initiative, which aims to ensure that children in Ward 16 and 19 have access to quality essential services to build a strong foundation for the rest of their lives.
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