Practitioners from ten Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in the Western Cape have completed skills and development training as part of Shoprite’s Act for Change programme, strengthening the quality of early learning for 580 children from Atlantis, Langa and Gugulethu during the important years that shape their development.
Delivered in partnership with The Early Care Foundation, the course equips ECD practitioners with practical skills, including teaching techniques, as well as knowledge of child development and classroom management to create nurturing, stimulating learning environments where young children can thrive.
“Quality early childhood education starts with confident, well-supported teachers. By combining practitioner training with nutritional support, we’re helping ECD centres create environments where children can learn, grow and start school-ready, better prepared for the future. Investing in those who care for young children today helps build stronger communities tomorrow,” says Lebo Ramotsamai, CSI Manager at the Shoprite Group.
The development of ECD practitioners forms part of Shoprite’s broader investment in early childhood development. Nationally, the retailer supports 148 ECD centres, providing nutritious meals to more than 10 000 children daily. For many, this is the most substantial meal they receive each day. Through practitioner training, Shoprite also helps create more stimulating environments where children can learn, play and flourish.
“Shoprite began supporting Khanyisile Educare in 2024, and I was incredibly grateful when I received the call confirming that our ECD had been approved to join the Act For Change programme,” says Thozama Tukulu, principal of Khanyisile Educare in Langa.
“The training has really helped us in our daily work with the children. We’re already using what we’ve learned in the classroom, and we’ll continue sharing it with other educators in our community.”
Here are the Early Childhood Development centres that benefitted from this programme:
| Name of ECD centre | Location |
| Little Kings and Queens ECD Centre | Atlantis |
| Thabisa Educare Centre | Atlantis |
| Luna’s Educare Centre | Atlantis |
| Humpty Dumpty Educare | Atlantis |
| Luncedo Educare Centre | Alantis |
| Likwezi Educare | Langa |
| Sizisa Iziphiwo Educare | Langa |
| Sister Sister Educare | Langa |
| Khanyisile Educare | Langa |
| Adelaide Tambo Educare Centre | Gugulethu |
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