Knysna Edu Trust

Having physical objects to see and hold helps children learn more effectively.

Together we are ensuring that every child receives equal opportunity to learn and thrive.

Donate to our BackaBuddy:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/adopt-a-childs-education?fbclid=IwAR11RCno2H_Aqz1SwN2lC_eHqCzobRlNId74TwFBUBcdEYeulgjgcBLb1jo

Save the date! We've planned something special with
Vintage with Love at Portland Manor Knysna.

Young Engineers has been visiting The Learning Tree preschool to conduct “Big Builders” lessons.

During these play-based lessons the children learn about technology and robotics! This year, they have covered topics like sea creatures, land creatures and engineering.

Thank you, Young Engineers South Africa! The children love your programme and always look forward to your visits.

If you want to know more please visit https://youngengineers.co.za/

Follow the link to donate to our BackaBuddy: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/adopt-a-childs-education

You could be the reason a child has the solid foundation to help them through formal school.

Congratulations to our SmartStart Coach, Andile Maduna! Your hard work has resulted in Knysna Education Trust being awarded "Highest Retention Rate" in our category. This means that when a SmartStart franchisee opens her doors for business, those doors remain open!

Andile, your dedication to guiding the SmartStart franchisees under your supervision has not gone unnoticed.

SmartStart South Africa Rotary International Rotary Knysna

Closing the early learning gap - another Five-Day Start Up training complete!

Last week 22 more women completed the training with SmartStart that will allow them to become franchisees, opening their own businesses as day mothers.


Rotary Knysna Rotary International SmartStart South Africa E'Pap Children's Feeding Project

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FOR THE YEAR END 28 FEBRUARY 2022

Date: 23 September 2022
Time: 10am (SAST)
Location: 34 Queen Street, Knysna Central, Knysna, 6571
RSVP: 044 382 4638

Alternatively, join on zoom
Meeting Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74255347264?pwd=DM4ihj8fODOYpTSNu1IM339KSywIXZ.1
Meeting ID: 742 5534 7264
Passcode: zjpXj1

Click here to view our AGM Report:
https://www.knysnaedutrust.co.za/agm-reports/

Thank you to everyone involved in the parent information session we hosted in New Horizons, Plett! It was so great to speak to parents who want to learn why preschool is important and how they can help their child's development.

One of the parents brought their little girl with and she was such a good example of what is possible when a child attends preschool. She recognised our Numba and Fonix programmes and had lots of fun learning through play while the adults spoke.

Happy International Literacy Day and congrats to our FIVE WINNERS! These are our five favourite literacy corners, using recycled goods and our Fonix Literacy Programme!

Eyethu Daycare; Rainbow Kids Sedgefield; Building Blocks Plett; Siphuncedo; Milkwood - come and collect your classroom resource prizes at our office!

Thank you to every preschool who entered, it was SO difficult to choose only five winners.

We'll be talking about the importance of ECD and how you can be more involved in your child's education.

KET's recent expo in Plett was a great success! We spoke to many parents about the importance of early childhood development, answering any questions they had and handing out age appropriate books.

If you are a parent that wants to be more involved in your child's early education, send us a WhatsApp!

It's finally spring and the sun is shining on our food garden! We're so happy because spring means more food for the children the garden supports.

If your food garden is overflowing this spring and you're not sure what to do with all the produce, consider donating some to a preschool so that they can make healthy food for the children. 🥒🥕🐝

Due to the march in Kwanokhutula we will be postponing all KET meetings and the Parent Information Session on Thursday 1 Sept.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Working Together to Ensure Food Security for Local Children - Knysna Education Trust

Knysna Education Trust wants to thank each person who donated towards our Mandela Month Campaign. As a community, we are working to ensure that children receive healthy meals to help them grow and thrive.

https://www.knysnaedutrust.co.za/2022/08/31/working-together-to-ensure-food-security-for-local-children/

Rotary Knysna E'Pap Children's Feeding Project Le Creuset

Working Together to Ensure Food Security for Local Children - Knysna Education Trust Knysna Education Trust wants to thank each person who donated towards our Mandela Month Campaign. As a community, we are working to ensure that children receive healthy meals to help them grow and thrive.

Congratulations Leche Fourie!
You have won a R500 voucher to be used at any of these restaurants:
Drydock Food Company
Sirocco Restaurant
34 Degrees South Restaurant Knysna
Tapas & Oysters Restaurant
The Project Bar

AND a 30 minute back, neck and shoulder massage at Turbine Hotel & Spa

Please check your inbox for a message from Knysna Edu Trust.

The theme for this year's International Literacy Day is "Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces."

We want to see teachers get creative using recycled goods and our Fonix Literacy Programme to decorate their literacy corner.

Contestants stand the chance to win awesome hampers with classroom resources!

The last day of Nal'ibali literacy facilitator training has been filled with role-playing and implementation of the skills learned this week.

Below is a representation of an after school reading group!

FUNda Leaders in training!

We've partnered with Nal'ibali to train 20 literacy facilitators. These literacy role models will soon be equipped to help children experience the power of stories and reading.

They will do this by:
1) Visiting ECD facilities
2) Conducting home visits
3) Hosting reading groups for primary school children

We can't wait to see how this Nal'ibali programme inspires children in our community!

Calling all parents!

Do you want to know more about early childhood development? We'll be in Plett to answer all of your questions.

All ECD practitioners need to know basic first aid, in case of emergencies.

Our Basic Childcare Course students attended a special first aid workshop yesterday. Well done to the attendees!

Rotary Club of Northampton West
Rotary Knysna

The Learning Tree's "Baker's Day" is always such fun. It's a great idea for any preschool to encourage learning through play.

Such an amazing goal ‘By 2025 ensure all young children in the Knysna region has access to a quality early childhood development facility’. Takes a ’dorpie’ if determined citizens to make this happen! Thank you to Knysna Rotary, Rotary International & all our local supporters and volunteers. Many small actions making a massive impact in the lives of our children, women entrepreneurs and parents. 💜

It is great to see our Fonix Literacy Programme working for children beyond preschool age. We have seen success with this play-based programme in children all the way up to Grade 3!

Visit our website to learn more: https://www.knysnaedutrust.co.za/literacy-and-numeracy-training/

Changing lives, one child at a time!

KILT is doing things differently by seeing, and supporting, the whole child.

Admittedly the world is a fast-paced place, and that slowing down often seems impossible, but it can make a world of difference in a child's life.

Grade 1 can be challenging, particularly as many children start without prior pre-schooling and adequate preparation. Imagine having failed before you even started, only because you’re in a new place, a new school, a new language and a new way.

Coming from another province, a Grade 1 learner at Concordia Primary didn’t understand a word of Afrikaans. He had already failed Grade 1 and was starting all over again, this time shouldering the hefty weight of defeat. “We assessed him using Fonix* in February 2022 and he could only recognise 3 sounds. 3 months later he could recognise 13 sounds and only one month after that he recognised 19 sounds. A light went on since then and now this learner just loves to read! This programme is absolutely amazing!!!!"- Mrs Bezuidenhout, a teacher at Concordia Primary.

This is the story of one child but, through our Grade 1 Remedial Support Programme, KILT is supporting a further 213 children just like him. This programme is turning the lights on for children who are at risk of being left in the dark. It provides personalized and specialized care and intervention that can ultimately be life changing.

We can make a difference - one child at a time - and truly give them a chance to live their dreams.

*FONIX Literacy Programme developed by: Knysna Edu Trust
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Yesterday Shelley Godsell from E'Pap Children's Feeding Project held a workshop to show some of our SmartStart franchisees the perfect method for mixing e'Pap.

Thank you Shelley and the attendees - for your commitment to providing warm, delicious breakfast to many children.

Did you know that over 95% of the early childhood development workforce is made up of women? Women's Month reminds us to appreciate women and all they do for society.

To enter our Women's Month competition:
1) Like these pages:
Knysna Edu Trust
Turbine Hotel & Spa
Drydock Food Company
Sirocco Restaurant
34 Degrees South Restaurant Knysna
Tapas & Oysters Restaurant
The Project Bar

2) Share this post!

3) Tag three friends in the comments!

The winner will be announced on the 31st of August 2022.

Knysna Education Trust has been working with partner organisations to increase the availability of Early Childhood Development facilities, benefitting local women and children.

Read about it on our website: https://www.knysnaedutrust.co.za/2022/08/09/celebrating-women-in-early-childhood-development/

SmartStart South Africa Rotary International Rotary Knysna E'Pap Children's Feeding Project

Every morning, the children from our newly established SmartStart South Africa ECD facilities have warm, nutritious breakfast provided by E'Pap Children's Feeding Project.

Thank you, e'Pap! You are helping the 134 children in these facilities learn and grow.

Rotary Knysna Rotary International

It's World Breastfeeding Week!

“We are women, mothers, gogo’s, usisi, daughters, aunties, friends, leaders, teachers, heroines, queens, goddesses, rulers, dreamers, champs. We are family”

This Women’s Month we are reminded to VALUE OUR WOMEN.

Treat them with dignity and respect and train the next generation to do the same.

By valuing our women, we can ensure a sustainable tomorrow.

Join MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet and help us to build a wholesome environment for all our daughters.

Don’t have a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card?

Download the FREE MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet App for an instant virtual card and choose Knysna Education Trust as one of your causes.








Make every swipe count to value the special women in our lives.

Collaborating with SmartStart South Africa, we have assisted the establishment of 34 small businesses since the beginning of 2022.

These "Day Mothers" have opened the doors of their homes, creating a stimulating learning environment using SmartStart's training. This has resulted in 145 more children attending an ECD facility, where they are encouraged to play and learn, reaching important developmental milestones.

We are excited for the road ahead as we continue to close the ECD access gap while supporting sustainable business opportunities, all made possible by a Rotary International Global Grant.

Rotary Knysna

Today we hosted Charmaine Brown and other representatives from the Department of Basic Education, inviting all ECD facilities in the area to discuss the recent shift from the Department of Social Development; best practice in ECD and answer questions about funding.

This was a greatly effective meeting and we thank all involved for their participation. Together, we are ensuring that no child is left behind.

Thank you to everyone who has donated! You have helped us to feed an extra 10 children for a week.

Thank you Personal Trust Pty Limited for choosing to spend your 67 minutes for Mandela Day at one of our affiliated preschools.

The children at Hildur Stent loved the toys, toiletries and blankets that you brought them. Taking time to feed and play with them was a beautiful act of kindness.

Since our last newsletter, we have been focused on increasing the impact of our programmes, listening to the needs of the community to provide support where it is needed most.

We would like to share three key successes with you:
1) The Blocks for Growth team distributed 508 education packs for the holidays.
2) We held our first resource making workshop for teachers.
3) Another 30 women have been trained by SmartStart, expanding the number of ECD facilities available to children and creating sustainable jobs.

Cape Town Museum of Childhood | Madiba and Children Virtual Exhibit

The Museum of Childhood launched the virtual experience “Madiba and Children” to celebrate Mandela Day. Click here to visit the virtual exhibit: https://www.museumofchildhood.org.za/madiba-and-children

Cape Town Museum of Childhood | Madiba and Children Virtual Exhibit Over the past two years, the Cape Town Museum of Childhood has been collecting newspaper headline posters that relate to the state of children in Cape Town, and South Africa. Through creating this interactive exhibit, showcasing the collection of posters, along with the stories behind the headlines

Mandela Day inspires us to be every day heroes, showing us that we can make a large impact if we work together.

R67 goes a long way when you donate to our feeding scheme, providing a child with warm, nutritious meals for a whole week.

Follow the link to make a donation and reference "Mandela Month" under the special note section: https://www.knysnaedutrust.co.za/campaigns/once-off/donate/

Children’s Education Charity | Knysna Education Trust

Mandela Month reminds us of the power we all have to make positive change through small acts of kindness.

Remembering Mandela's call to action to help those in need, we are inviting you to donate R67 towards our feeding scheme, which will provide a child with nutritious, warm meals for a week.

Our feeding scheme currently supports over 200 children. We would like to increase this number, as a further 1000 children still need our help.

Follow the link to make a donation and reference "Mandela Month" under the special note section: https://www.knysnaedutrust.co.za/campaigns/once-off/donate/

Children’s Education Charity | Knysna Education Trust The Knysna Education Trust is a charity transforming early childhood development in the Garden Route area. Support our education specialists & programmes today

Five Reasons to Read to Your Child!

Happy teachers, with lots of colourful toys to take home after our First 1000 Days Resource Workshop 😁

Thank you to the creative volunteers who helped with this!