MIDVAAL. – Executive Mayor, Ald. Peter Teixeira together with the MMC for Community Services, Thembi Modiba hosted a delegation from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian delegation consisted of Addis Ababa’s Deputy Mayor, Mr Jantirar Abay and other high-ranking officials.

According to Teixeira, Midvaal has the best Early Childhood Development (ECD) -Day Mother Model programme in South Africa.

The delegation was keen to learn about the municipality’s successful ECD policies and how to best develop systems to expand the programme in Addis Ababa.

The discussions included implementational frameworks around ECD programmes and models to use to deliver sustainable day care services.

The visit is an action step to the Mayor of Addis Ababa’s goal to ensure that 1.3 million children under 6 years in the city are developmentally on track in terms of health, learning, and psychosocial wellbeing by 2030.

Teixeira said in a media statement the municipality is proud of its ECD programmes and has invested R1.6 million in the current financial year.

“This has undoubtedly gained international recognition prompting diplomatic engagements from other countries.

“We will continue to offer support and training to our ECD centres and ensure that they are formalised,” Teixeira said.