The new preschool program at the Delft South housing project ensures children no longer enter grade school far behind their wealthier peers. Educational toys will help them gain necessary skills.
The Delft South projects house families without formal employment. Parents work as domestic workers, often living on less than $50/month. There are no early childhood development programs, and young children roam the streets while parents work. A two-room house is being used to prepare them for school. Funding is needed to purchase educational toys and materials, and an awning to provide shade from the hot South African sun.
Impoverished mothers with children walk the streets collecting youngsters t bring to school. There, a volunteer teacher, who has completed Waldorf training, prepares the children to attend formal school.
The children sing, memorize the alphabet, learn to write their name, and count. The addition of paints, chalkboards, puzzles, blocks, and other educational toys, will help further stimulate their minds, preparing them for school and a bright future.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
