It takes A Village to Raise a Child

HCI Foundation’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) strategy is inspired by the African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child.” This reflects our belief that all children have the potential to thrive when nurtured in supportive environments. Our goal is to ensure that every child has access to quality, inclusive, and transformative play-based early learning programmes provided by skilled, passionate, and nurturing teachers. Quality early learning is key to success both in school and in life.
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Investing in Our Children’s Future

A child’s brain is nearly fully developed by age five, making early learning essential for lifelong success. The absence of quality early childhood education impacts a child’s future and carries long-term costs for society and the economy. By investing in early childhood development, we contribute to a brighter future for our children and South Africa.
Excellence in ECD Excellence in ECD

The 8 Indicators of Success

At the heart of the Excellence in Early Childhood Development Programme are eight indicators of success, reached through consultation with the Foundation’s ECD partners and anchored on existing research. The eight elements look at ECD in an integrated way while supporting the child holistically. We believe all ECD sites should be supported to implement the eight elements to provide children with the tools they need to succeed later in life. Our Excellence in ECD initiative seeks to create bridges between all relevant stakeholders to support South African children’s pathway into formal schooling for their academic success.
Excellence in ECD Excellence in ECD

Partnering for Success

HCI Foundation works with ECD training and resource organisations to implement eight indicators of success that foster excellence in early childhood development. These indicators offer a holistic approach to supporting children and creating an environment that enables them to succeed later in life. Through our Excellence in ECD initiative, we aim to build strong partnerships between all stakeholders, ensuring that South African children are well-prepared for formal schooling and future academic success.