Sounds of ululations, clapping and singing could be heard through the streets of the Rammulotsi township in the Free State as Ntataise hosted various end-of-year celebratory events with programme beneficiaries last week. Each year Ntataise recognises and celebrates the achievements of the ECD practitioners, centre managers, parents/caregivers and children that are involved in Ntataise’s programmes. The first event saw the attendance of 150 practitioners and centre managers who celebrated the huge gains made towards improving the quality of early learning services in their communities.

Ntataise’s Community Outreach programme provides non-centre based ECD services including the Mosupatsela “Come and Play” playgroup programme, an ECD support programme at two local day clinics and a parent/caregiver support programme. 313 parents/caregivers attended the Parent Support Programme celebration; and an additional 376 parents/caregivers and children from Ntataise’s 10 playgroups participated in the Outreach celebration. Certificates of attendance and recognition were awarded while parents/caregivers shared heartfelt reflections on how the programme made them feel supported, connected to other parents, knowledgeable about ECD and helped them to develop more loving relationships with their children.