I remember a particular day when I walked into our local hardware store with my youngest son at my side. He was 11 years old at the time. Hardware stores have that distinctive smell – a mixture of paint, chemicals, wood and cement. I commented on it and my son, without skipping a beat, said a few words that have stuck in my mind ever since: “It smells of possibility.”
PLACE HAS THE POWER TO SHAPE US – AND SO, WE SHOULD BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT SHAPING OUR PLACES
When we fix a space, it’s about so much more than paint and polish. It’s about more than a clean yard, bright new signage, lights and greenery. It’s about unlocking possibility. Picturing a different future. Sparking hope and the realisation that the seemingly small steps count.
Children need to grow up in places of hope. The first five years of a child’s life are critical. During this time, a child’s brain develops faster than at any other time in life – and we have this small window of opportunity to ensure that we create stimulating spaces that are safe and nurturing, and where the child has access to quality early learning experiences.
And sometimes, it takes a splash of paint to kickstart the journey.
BONGANI MTHIMUNYE IS ONE OF THE LOCAL ARTISTS WHO BRIGHTENED UP THE ECD CENTRES, ADDING SIGNAGE WHERE NEEDED
“THE CHILDREN LOVE THE BRIGHT COLOURS!”
Early Childhood Development in South Africa – investment is a must
For thousands of Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres across South Africa, it’s a struggle to survive. Parents aren’t always able to afford school fees – and even when they do, there often just isn’t enough to turn ECD centres into small businesses that are able to invest in things like infrastructure, capacity-building for staff and quality curriculum tools.
We know that the lack of access to quality ECD can negatively impact children’s long-term success – and if we’re looking at building resilient, thriving communities, we simply have to invest in helping to create a firm foundation for the next generation. For this reason, ECD is one of Ranyaka’s ten programmes. As the implementation agents for the national Nedbank Proud of my Town initiative, we have been able to support over 200 ECD centres across the country – and every year, this number grows.
LINAH MPAKI, PRINCIPAL OF BOKAMOSO DAY CARE CENTRE
RANYAKA MAMELODI LOCAL COORDINATOR, ITUMELENG MASETHE, AND PRINCIPAL OF IKUKE ECD CENTRE, LAINEY CHOEU
More than a make-over – a boost for Mamelodi ECD centres
The Ranyaka team started working with a network of ECD centres in Mamelodi in 2020 when we distributed Nedbank and Buco-donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Our formal ECD programme in the township kicked off two years later and by mid-2024, thanks to the Nedbank Proud of my Town programme, we had been able to upskill ECD practitioners in areas such as first aid, fire prevention, financial education and even digital design through CANVA training.
Our ECD programme has also started addressing nutrition. Over 60% of South African households are food insecure and this means that millions of children are lacking the nutrients they need for healthy development in those first, crucial years. As part of our Land and Property programme food network, we are exploring different models for small-scale food gardening at ECD centres.
To date, 31 centres in Mamelodi have benefited from the donation of Nedbank-funded seedlings for their food gardens – and 15 centres have received donations of vegetables from farmers in our network. We also trained ECD principals on how to grow tomatoes in vertical gardens – ideal for centres with limited outdoor space.
MA THUSANANI EARLY LEARNING CENTRE IS ONE OF FOUR ECD CENTRES IN MAMELODI THAT BENEFITED FROM A NEDBANK-FUNDED FIX YOUR SPACE PROJECT IN 2024
SELINAH MODISANA IS THE PRINCIPAL OF MOHAU EARLY LEARNING CENTRE – ONE OF THE FOUR ECD CENTRES THAT BENEFITED FROM THE 2024 FIX YOUR SPACE PROGRAMME.
Fix your Space – more than a splash of paint
Place matters. Not only do our physical surroundings affect the way we feel, learn and grow – clean, well-maintained spaces are typically also safer, more investor-friendly spaces.
As part of our ECD programme journey in Mamelodi, we held a series of workshops with 35 ECD principals from Mamelodi – culminating in a survey to help us identify four ECD centres in urgent need of renovations. This year, funded by the Nedbank PoMT programme, we were able to tackle Fix Your Space projects at these four centres.
SIGNAGE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE – NOT ONLY FOR VISUAL APPEAL, BUT TO MARKET THE ECD CENTRES’ SERVICES TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
We worked with local handymen and artists, and renovations at the four identified centres included fresh coats of paint, eye-catching wall art, replacing a damaged carport, installing artificial play grass, and donating furniture such as children’s tables, chairs, and puzzle play mats. One of the centres that needed a plan to conserve water received a Jojo water tank.
The impact was immediate and significant.
At one centre, Bokamoso Day Care, six new learners enrolled within just two months of the upgrades. At Ikuke Day Care, four new learners joined within a month. Striking signage and brightly coloured walls catch the eye and quite literally, paint the picture of a place of fun, learning and nurture.
ENERGY, CREATIVITY AND COMMITMENT – SEUN WILLIAMS AND BONGANI MTHIMUNYE ADDING A SPLASH OF COLOUR
The kids love coming here
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Linah Mpaki, principal of Bokamoso Day Care, shared the kind of message that reminds us why we love the work we do. “When my ECD got selected for a Fix My Space makeover, I cried because I could not believe my small ECD shack could ever look nice. It’s bright, it’s clean, and the kids love coming here now.” She also spoke of the skills she learnt at the Canva training session. She can now create her own personalised certificates, reports and classroom materials for the children.
“When my day care centre got selected for a Fix My Space makeover, I cried because I could not believe my small ECD shack could ever look nice.” – ECD principal, Mamelodi township
“SEEING STORIES COME TO LIFE ON THE WALLS – THE CHILDREN LOVE IT!”
Florence Molaudzi, principal of Ma Thusanang Day Care, was just as excited. “Seeing the reaction of the children when they saw the renovations for the first time… those bright and happy faces made me realise how big this is and what a difference it will make for us.” Lainey Choeu from Ikuke Day Care said “I truly have no words. Thank you, Ranyaka and Nedbank. May you continue to be a blessing.”
MEET FLORENCE MOLAUDZI, PRINCIPAL OF MATHUSANANI DAY CARE CENTRE.
The road ahead – building on success
At Ranyaka we acknowledge that we too are the learners – and the more we journey alongside this group of dedicated ECD practitioners, the more we learn that there is still so much more that needs to be done. We would love to tackle many more Fix Your Space projects – not only to witness the wide smiles on young faces when storybook characters appear on their classroom walls, but to create enabling spaces of growth and learning.
Looking to 2025, we are working on expanding our support by connecting the ECD centres in our network with curriculum development experts, and continuing to provide training that empowers ECD practitioners.
RANYAKA’S LOCAL COORDINATOR IN MAMELODI TOWNSHIP, ITUMELENG MASETHE, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE FIX YOUR SPACE PROJECT
Our Marketing Manager, Lesego Masethe, wraps it up so well when she says: “Our goal is to establish sustainable partnerships with ECDs, ensuring young learners receive high-quality education and care. By transforming ECD centres, we’re shaping the future of our communities.”
Sometimes it starts with a splash of paint. Because when it comes to fixing a space, paint smells of possibility – and where there are people and partners committed to a worthy cause, anything is indeed possible.
THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF A CHILD’S LIFE PROVIDE A CRITICAL WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE WELL-BEING OF THE CHILD. RANYAKA IS THE NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION AGENT FOR THE NEDBANK PROUD OF MY TOWN PROGRAMME. EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND FIX YOUR SPACE ARE TWO OF THE PROGRAMMES THAT FORM PART OF THE POMT INITIATIVE, CURRENTLY BEING IMPLEMENTED IN 33 COMMUNITIES IN 15 TOWNS IN 8 PROVINCES ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA. JOURNEY WITH US!
Join us on this journey
Whether you’re able to offer expertise in curriculum development, resources for ECD centres, or help us spread the word, your contribution will make a difference. The Ranyaka team is expanding its network of partners so that together, we can create vibrant, thriving ECD centres that nurture and inspire South Africa’s next generation.
Contact us at admin@ranyaka.co.za for more information.
It truly does take a village to raise a child. We need to build strong villages to make sure that we give the children in our country the best possible chance for thriving futures.