Cotlands and DCM celebrate the success of toy programme
Cotlands, in partnership with Assore’s Dwarsrivier Chrome Mine and Boleng Trust, hosted a closing ceremony celebration to mark the end of a three-year journey for their toy library programme.
The event was held at Jorge Resort on Friday October 28. Among the attendees was the mine Socio- Economic Development Team, Cotlands’s management, principals and educators from Ngwaabe early childhood development (ECD) centres and representatives from the Limpopo Department of Education.
Guests were entertained by extramural activities offered by the kids of Mogoshadi Day Care. With the support from DCM, Cotlands has in the past three years improved education locally.
Cotlands’ Nozizwe Dladla-Qwabe said they have succeeded in increasing access to play-based opportunities for children in the Ngwaabe circuit.
“The main objective of the programme was to increase access to quality educational resources and play-based early learning opportunities, and increase parental involvement in kids’ daily play activities.”
She confirmed that Cotlands has worked with 45 ECD centres in the Ngwaabe circuit. “2 505 kids were served by our toy library.
We had 54 workshop sessions and we successfully trained 85 ECD practitioners. We also conducted play sessions at all the schools.
“Cotlands is a non-profit ECD organisation. Its focus is to address the education and social crisis by establishing early learning playgroups and toy libraries in under-resourced communities. Our target group is vulnerable children aged nought to six.
DCM’s Majaletjie Mathume said thank you for the support from the Ngwaabe circuit and also applauded the ECD practitioners for their dedication.
“We will continue supporting and working closely with our ECD centres. Our aim is to invest in education and to develop the kids from the young age.”
The Ngwaabe circuit manager, Madikgwadi Masha, thanked both Cotlands and DCM for their contribution to the education sector.
“We are thankful for what DCM is doing. It is contributing immensely to the education sector. Playing is important for young ones as it promotes cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being, offering the necessary conditions for children to thrive and learn.” Representing the ECD centres was Glen Malekane. She indicated how Cotlands has improved their education.
“The games developed our kids’ minds. Now they know which professions to follow. The children needed the games to grow and polish their minds.”
The event was concluded with a certificate handover as well as gift giveaways. Four preschools were handed refrigerators while one received a Canon printer.
