It was a day filled with celebrations and looking down memory lane as 90 early childhood development (ECD) practitioners graduated at the Mbombela Civic Centre on October 3.

It was the biannual graduation ceremony by Ntataise Lowveld for the NQF Level 4 ECD practitioners who had studied for 18 months. They are from remote, disadvantaged communities in rural Nkomazi, Bushbuckridge and around Mbombela.

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Ntataise Lowveld was established by Margaret Solomon on a farm in Croc Valley in March 1986. The initial aim was to relieve women farm workers who had to till the soil with babies and toddlers on their backs, and to rather have the latter stimulated through play.

According to Tseli Scharer, the director of Ntataise Lowveld, the programme today is an achievement that should reduce the triple challenges the country faces, which are inequality, unemployment and injustice.
She said as they celebrate the practitioners for their achievements, they are also celebrating 10 years with Standard Bank, as it has been funding them since 2014. She said Standard Bank made it possible for them to skill 800 students. She said to date this bank has spent millions on this programme.

Addressing the graduates, Scharer said: “These students were carefully selected because of their passion for the sector, although they also received a stipend, if at all, on some occasions. The commitment and dedication they have for the less privileged children in our communities precede them, and they deserve a grand occasion; this is the least we can do to validate them. We at Ntataise Lowveld are committed to leading, serving and strengthening ECD services with the valuable backup and financial support of our dedicated funders as well as prospective ones.”

Zanele Shabalala, a corporate social investment manager for Standard Bank SA, said they assist this programme because it is their focus area, which is early learning.

“We believe that in order to produce future learners who are ready for the new world of work, we have to start at the beginning and give them a solid foundation. We believe there is a chance to make the little ones live better by empowering and making sure that the ECD practitioners get proper qualifications.”

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Ludia Mkhabela, one of the beneficiaries who graduated, said she is grateful to be part of this programme. She said it was easy for her to apply, and it has changed her life for the better. “As a mother I am now able to provide for my kids and make a contribution to the household, too.”