Education South Africa Project #52721

Help 120 South African children attend pre-school

by Ubunye Educare Centre

Project Report | Sep 17, 2026
Real progress. Real impact.

By Esther Cupido | Project Leader

Small steps, big futures.

Since our June report, Ubunye Educare Centre has continued building on the priorities we identified: literacy, numeracy, school readiness, parent involvement, teacher development, nutrition and a stronger learning environment.

Reading & Literacy

Our Reading Room is now supporting 40 learners with additional reading and homework support. The arrival of 600 books has significantly strengthened access to age-appropriate reading material, giving children more opportunities to practise, explore stories and develop a love of reading.

Parent Engagement

Parent commitment has increased by 70%. This stronger involvement helps extend learning beyond the classroom and strengthens the partnership between families and educators.

Stronger Teachers, Stronger Learning

All four of our teachers received training during this period. Continued professional development helps our educators strengthen classroom practice and provide better support for children's learning and school readiness.

Nutrition that Supports Learning

Nutrition remains central to our programme. Over the three-month period, we served 11,040 meals to our learners. Providing regular meals helps children stay focused, participate in class and learn in a supportive environment.

What Comes Next

We will continue strengthening literacy and numeracy, expanding reading support, involving parents, developing our teachers and improving the resources and environment in which our children learn.

Your Support Creates These Opportunities

These achievements are made possible through the commitment of our staff, families, partners and donors. Every book, training opportunity and meal contributes to a child’s ability to learn, grow and prepare for the next stage of their education.

THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN.

Reading circle: little readers, big dreams.

Our parents, our strength

More than a meal, it's fuel to learn.

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Jun 1, 2026
Help 120 South African children attend pre-school

By Esther Cupido | Project Leader

Ubunye where play meets school readiness

Ubunye Educare Centre Impact Report 2026

Empowering Children, Strengthening Communities

Ubunye Educare Centre continues to serve as a beacon of hope in Dunoon Township, Cape Town, providing quality early childhood development services to 120 children aged 5–6 years from vulnerable and low-income households. Through education, nutrition, health support, and family engagement, we are helping children build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.

2026 Programme Highlights

Early Learning Excellence

Throughout 2026, our dedicated team of qualified Early Childhood Development practitioners delivered a comprehensive Grade R programme aligned with the Department of Basic Education curriculum. The programme focused on literacy, numeracy, social-emotional development, creativity, and school readiness.

Key outcomes included:

Improved learner participation and classroom engagement.
Increased school readiness among graduating learners.
Enhanced cognitive and language development through structured learning activities.

Nutrition and Wellbeing

Good nutrition remains essential for effective learning. Every child enrolled at Ubunye received daily nutritious meals and healthy snacks, ensuring they could learn and grow in a supportive environment.

Programme achievements:

Daily meals provided to all enrolled learners.
Improved concentration and participation in classroom activities.
Continued support for children experiencing food insecurity at home.

Family and Community Development

Recognising that parents are a child's first teachers, Ubunye strengthened family involvement through regular parent meetings, workshops, and home-school partnerships. Parents participated in activities designed to improve communication, support learning at home, and encourage positive parenting practices.

Highlights included:

Increased parental attendance at school events.
Parent education workshops on child development and wellbeing.
Stronger collaboration between families and educators.

Innovation and Growth

Digital Learning Programme

During 2026, Ubunye expanded its use of educational technology to support literacy and numeracy development. Learners participated in guided digital learning sessions using age-appropriate educational applications, helping them build confidence and foundational technology skills.

Reading and Literacy Development

The centre continued to strengthen its literacy programme through storytelling, book-sharing activities, and access to a dedicated reading space. These initiatives encouraged a love of reading among children and their families.

Organisational Achievements

During 2026, Ubunye Educare Centre successfully:

Serving 124 children from the Dunoon community.
Maintaining a high learner attendance throughout the year.
Continued to provide a safe, nurturing, and stimulating learning environment.
Strengthening partnerships with local businesses, community organisations, and supporters.
Enhance classroom resources and educational materials to improve learning outcomes.

Challenges Experienced

Like many community-based organisations, Ubunye faced several challenges during the year, including:

Rising operational and food costs.
Increased demand for quality early childhood services.
The need for sustainable long-term funding to maintain and expand programmes.
Infrastructure improvements required to accommodate future growth.

Despite these challenges, the commitment of staff, families, partners, and donors enabled the centre to continue delivering essential services to children and their families.

A Message of Gratitude

To our donors, partners, volunteers, and supporters: thank you for believing in the potential of every child. Your generosity enables Ubunye Educare Centre to provide opportunities that transform lives and strengthen our community. Together, we are creating brighter futures, one child at a time.

Every contribution, partnership, and act of support helps ensure that children in Dunoon have access to quality early childhood education, proper nutrition, and a safe environment where they can thrive.

Thank you for being part of our journey.

Netball in a Box partnership in action

Parent graduation: learning together for children

School feeding: full tummies, bright minds

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Feb 10, 2026
Enhancing Early Childhood Education for 120 Children in Dunoon, Cape Town

By Esther Cupido | Project Leader

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