White Dove crèche wins top ECD prize
‘You see children smiling. There is a sense of love, passion and caring’
AVELDDRIF woman’s passion to work with children was triggered at the age of five when her parents founded a crèche 28 years ago. Caren Blaauw, was honoured for running the best Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD) in the Western Cape.
Blaauw was among the three overall winners announced at the South African Early Childhood Development Awards ceremony yesterday.
National Development Agency (NDA) chief executive Dr Anthony Bouwer said the awards were aimed at recognising excellence in ECDs.
“We are here to recognise the pursuit of excellence and outstanding work done by ECDs . We are here to motivate each other as well as to grow in leaps,” he said.
White Dove was initially founded to care for the impoverished children in the Velddrif community, but due to its stellar reputation, has grown to accommodate children from the working class.
Despite the crèche being owned by her parents, Blaauw worked her way from being a cleaner to a principal at the crèche which has over a 100 registered children with a staff of 50.
Making the announcement, Terrence November of the Early Childhood Resource Centre had nothing but praise for the manner in which the Velddrif crèche was operating.
He said the crèche was well managed and offered quality programmes.
“When you walk into the centre you realise that it is a well-run and children are learning. You see this in the children’s smiles. There is a sense of love, passion and caring among staff and it is very hygienic.” said November.
The provincial prize will go towards the improvement of the ECD centre. It will also receive maths and language materials and educational toy kits from Early Learning Resource Unit (ELRU), Centre for Early Childhood Development (CECD) and Grassroots.
Blaauw said she owed her win to three things, teamwork, prayer and leadership.
“I found that I can understand a child. When they talk to me I can make out more from what the child is saying to me. Sometimes we adults don’t listen to children which is why most children feel misunderstood. I think this is a skill I acquired from being around children all my life,” she said.
The Best ECD practitioner award was handed to Nozipho Ralarala of the Kwakhanya ECD Centre in Khayelitsha.
Ralarala said it was her character that connected her to the children. “When I am with them... I am on the same level as them.” –
WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNISE THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE AND OUTSTANDING WORK