EDUCARE PROGRAMME

There is an Educare class at each Philani Nutrition Centre and three at our Development Centre, where pre-school children (aged 2½ - 6 years) can participate in a stimulating learn-and-play programme. Children who play recover faster from illness and malnutrition.

Some of our Educare teachers are mothers who came originally to the Centres with malnourished children and who received training as pre-school teachers. We currently have more than 200 children enrolled on the programme.

At the end of every school year a graduation ceremony is held for the children leaving for primary school and the annual Educare Christmas party brings all the children together at our Development Centre. In December 2007, some of the children repeated the highlight of the party - the nativity play - for our Patron, Archbishop Tutu, during his visit to Philani.