Singakwenza, which means “We can do it” is a Non-Profit Organisation providing Early Childhood Education to economically disadvantaged communities.
We are so proud of our amazing team! We were awarded Runner Up for the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business Social Entrepreneur of the Year at the PCB Banquet tonight!
Thank you, PMB business, for your amazing support. It is an enormous honour to be recognised for our financial integrity, sustainability and growth.
The newest addition to our organisation, a 7 seater VW Caddy, will help us to drive Early Childhood Education even further. Thank you to the amazing donors that have made the purchase possible.
When our trainers run Waste 2 Toys workshops, it is not just the delegates that learn new things. During our trip to Zimbabwe this week to run workshops in Gwanda and Nyanga, we learnt that the average Zimbabwean people have an amazing attitude to life and an incredible resilience despite many hardships. We learnt that there are ECD educators that are prepared to leave home at 2am to travel to workshops. We learnt that fuel queues and food shortages do not affect the hospitality and welcome that you receive. And we learnt that “Don’t worry, we’ll make a plan” is how most people react when things don’t go as planned.
Thank you, Willie Dhlandhlara, the Solon Foundation and The Emirates Airline Foundation, for giving us the opportunity to learn so much this week. We hope that the 90 delegates, and the 3 649 children they work with, will benefit from what we taught too.
We were delighted to host Ian and Ilze from Ecobrick Exchange, an environmental awareness enterprise based in the Cape, to run some training on how to build using eco-bricks.
These “bricks” are made by filling 2 litre coke bottles with non-biodegradable, non-recyclable packaging – polystyrene, cellophane, chip packets, straws, plastic bags, cling wrap, etc.
Once they have been stuffed so full that you can stand on them, then they are ready for building.
At the training, lessons on how to mobilise support for an EcoBrick project were given and solutions to potential challenges discussed. Then after learning how to make EcoBlocks (EcoBricks made into modular pieces that fit together), the delegates were shown how to use these EcoBlocks to build a raised vegetable garden.
Each delegate committed to start one project, and we’ll share their progress along the way. More than 10 different NGOs were involved in this training and the investment made by the sponsors, Ndaka Safari Lodge, will send ripples of change into many different communities, and we are so grateful for them for enabling this training to happen.
Singakwenza is now a hub where you can drop off your EcoBricks and those who need them for projects will be able to collect them from our office. We can’t wait to see the EcoBrick Exchange vision spreading throughout KZN.
We all know that encouraging children to “build” is beneficial, but do you know why?
The number of skills that this type of activity offers children is amazing! Children are given the opportunity to develop:
– Visual-spatial awareness, which is needed for https://www.pass4lead.com/700-260.html reading and writing
– Problem-solving and critical thinking, which are important for Maths and Science
– Fine motor manipulation and strength
– Motor planning and control
– Creativity and imagination
– Concentration and focus
– Social skills and cooperation
Often we think these skills only develop if our https://www.pass4lead.com/700-039.html children have access to blocks or Lego. Try giving your children whatever is in your recycling packet – you will be AMAZED at what they create! And if you join in with the fun, you add a whole new dimension to your child’s learning.
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