Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 early learning centres (ECDs) were closed for months, leaving no resources for children in informal settlements to be able to learn. Tebelo partnered with various qualified professionals, like an occupational therapist, to put together a program for children under five to be able to continue learning at home.
Educational packs were distributed on 16 July 2020 to the first fifty pre-schoolers in the Melusi informal settlement in Pretoria. Since then, over a thousand packs have been handed out to children under five in Gauteng. Community Health Workers continually support the mothers who visit the University of Pretoria clinic in their community by providing them with training on how to use the material with their children.
The bags, and educational toys which are simple affordable items, can be made anywhere and can easily be duplicated in other contexts. This resource can aid in equipping children with the basic concepts they need to be ready for school once they are able to return.
This 12-week learning program is available on our Resources page as a free download.