1,034 Cala children to benefit from R1.6m ECD initiative

A total of 1,034 children at 28 Early Childhood Development centres in Cala and surrounding villages will benefit from a R1.6 million learning and teaching support initiative by the National Development Agency (NDA) and Eskom.

The handover programme started on Sunday, 7 September 2026, in Cala, Sakhisizwe Local Municipality. On day one, 12 centres received materials aimed at supporting physical, mental and emotional development before formal schooling.

The materials cover gross and fine motor development, fantasy play, reading, tabletop and ring activities.

The initiative is part of a formal partnership between the NDA and Eskom that began in 2013 and was formalised through an MoU signed in February 2025. The MoU combines the NDA’s expertise in civil society organisation development with Eskom’s corporate social investment resources. It is managed by a joint Programme Steering Committee and is active in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape — the last handover was to 31 centres in Khayetlitsha in June.

“This handover demonstrates what can be achieved when the public sector and corporate social investment institutions combine their strengths,” said NDA Eastern Cape Provincial Manager Nokulunga Skeyi.

Eskom Cala Senior Supervisor Sive Rabaza said: “This is not just about handing over materials. It is an investment in children and in laying a foundation for lifelong learning.”

The partnership sees Eskom identifying and assessing NPOs and providing resources, while the NDA mobilises CSOs, provides capacity building, grant funding and monitoring.

The Cala rollout continues until 11 September 2026, with deliveries scheduled to villages including Manzimdaka, Upper Mnxe and Cacadu.

At Sunday’s ceremony, attended by Sakhisizwe Mayor Boniswa Phonoshe, Ward 5 Councillor Lulama Thulelo, the Sakhisizwe ECD Forum and centre representatives, Councillor Thulelo said the high number of ECD centres shows the community values education.

Beneficiaries including Nosiseko Pre-School, Eyethu Pre-School and Bright Future thanked the funders and committed to safeguarding the materials, while appealing to the Mayor for permanent sites, as most currently operate on temporary sites.

Mayor Phonoshe acknowledged the contribution in supporting government to nurture future leaders in Cala.

The Sakhisizwe ECD Forum noted its relationship with the NDA dates back to 2015 and includes practitioner training.