The year has started with positive energy and great news!
We are incredibly proud to share that our resource centre in the heart of the Stanford Community – The Learning Tree – has received a Gold Certificate from the Western Cape Government’s Department of Education and is now officially registered as an Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre, in addition to our existing Partial Care Facility registration with the Western Cape Government’s Department of Social Development.
The Learning Tree is now offering a morning ECD programme providing quality, child-centered ECD services in the heart of the Stanford community.
We are proud – happy – encouraged to continue moving forward with our mission to provide our quality ECD and after-school programmes in the Overberg.
Our Early Learning Programme’s “Steps to School”
Forming part of our Early Learning Programme, we developed a set of engaging school-readiness games designed for use in private homes and crèches across the communities we serve.
These games support children’s foundational skills while making learning fun for young children and accessible for parents, caregivers and teachers.
In the Steps-to-School pack are also teacher and caregiver affirmation cards created to support their wellbeing and provide encouragement to educators and parents – some pictures of some of our teachers and parents cards below.
The Learning Tree – Baking & Creating
The after-school programme run at Learning Tree recently received a generous donation of an oven from the Regina Foundation in Holland so we have added a new activity to our programme in the afternoons; the children are now baking and creating delicious treats, learning practical skills, teamwork, creativity and responsibility.
Watch this space – soon we will be selling some delicious baked goods!
Youth Skills Development – The Arts for Growth
We are happy to welcome Ayakha Kamana and Nolundi Nonono, Zwelihle Youth Choir’s leadership, to our Team to lead Youth Skills Development through the arts in Stanford.
This programme uses art disciplines as tools for:
- personal growth
- emotional wellbeing
- creative development, and
- youth leadership skills development.
We are excited to support this programme and to see it grows and flourishes.
The Learning Tree – Renovations and Expansion
As The Learning Tree continues to evolve, we need to complete renovations and extend the current veranda to create more space for the children.
We invite you to support us by:
- signing up for our “Circle of Friends” initiative, a monthly recurring contribution,
- donating directly into our bank account
- contributing renovation materials.
Your support, big or small, financial or in kind, helps us create a nurturing and inspiring environment for children living in a under-resourced community, helping them helping them to reach their full potential and become beacons of hope and leaders for our shared future.
Please join our Circle of Friends and support our programmes with R150 per month in 2026.
Creative Skills Factory is a registered Public Benefit Organisation and we can issue Section 18A tax receipts for income tax reduction.
Your contribution truly makes a difference.
Together We Grow
We are deeply grateful for the support of our community, partners, donors, collaborators and volunteers.
Your belief in our mission makes everything possible.
We are looking forward to a year of continued growth, creativity and impact.
