South African Congress for Early Childhood Development (SACECD) deputy president Melissa Jacobs, from Heathfield, and Western Cape chairwoman Karrimah Jacobs, from Colorado Park.
Members of the South African Congress for Early Childhood Development (SACECD) Western Cape region will be visiting rural towns to raise awareness and educate crèche employees of their rights and civic responsibility.
Provincial chairwoman Karrimah Jacobs, from Colorado Park, told the Plainsman that for the next week they will visit 10 towns along the West Coast; and 17 others when they visit the East Coast between June 19 and July 3.
The congress is a representative national mass-based, non-profit ECD organisation.
It lobbies and advocates for all educare centres which are either registered or in the process of being compliant with the Department of Basic Education; are following the norms and standards of Labour Law; South African Revenue Service (SARS) compliant and actively contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“At the moment we take care and nourish young minds while their parents go to work and contribute to the GDP.
“As entrepreneurs and a workforce we can with support contribute a bit more to the GDP,” she said.
The provincial team would like to grow their membership numbers and encourage them to negotiate with government, whether at local, provincial or national levels.
“We want to be able to say to the government we represent so many children and the ECD workforce,” she said.
Ms Jacobs said they would like members to complete forms but also be empowered and informed about challenges they may face as teachers, principals, cleaning staff and administrators at centres or educare forums.
“We will be collecting information and sharing information; collaborating challenges; and look at solutions and formulate a mandate, which we can table as congress,” she said.
National deputy president Melissa Jacobs, from Heathfield, who also heads Hanover Park Day Care, said it was the ultimate goal to engage with the government on all ECD challenges.
“But we also want to be part of the solution. We are on the ground and we want them to know what our experiences are,” she said.
To join, donate or for more information call Ms Jacobs on 076 117 1167.