ECD Financial Management Programme

This project was created in response to the growing youth unemployment crisis in South Africa and the urgent need to improve compliance among local Early Childhood Development centers (ECDs). Initially designed as a comprehensive 12-month initiative, it combines economic and community development strategies to strengthen non-compliant ECDs across all districts in Gauteng.

At its core, this initiative is rooted in the ethos of empowerment. Through targeted skills training, participants are equipped with a versatile toolkit to excel in diverse professional environments or entrepreneurial ventures. By nurturing talent and fostering collaboration, we envision a future where every graduate has the opportunity to succeed, and every ECD operates with efficiency and integrity.

Testimonials

"I have developed a strong set of skills that include meticulous attention to detail, proficiency in accounting, and an in-depth understanding of fundamental accounting principles."

"The skills training has helped me with teamwork, time management, and how to confidently speak with my colleagues."

"The skills training has taught me how to behave in the workplace, and how to manage our time in terms of coming to work on time and respecting other people's time."

"Collaborating with supervisors from different districts has significantly enhanced my professional skills during this program. Their guidance, feedback, and diverse perspectives have contributed to my growth as an intern working with School Financial Management Governance within the Gauteng Department of Education."

"Coaching made me think more about my future plans and how I can successfully put them into action, it made me explore my goals and which steps to take going forward after this internship."

"Coaching and mentoring have helped me balance my everyday life and work. How to write out real and reachable goals and how to follow those goals."

"Skills training has equipped me with the knowledge and tools to create accurate budgets, forecast future

financial performance, and track variances between actual and projected figures, it has also helped me in improving communication skills, especially in conveying complex financial information to stakeholders in a clear and concise manner. This has facilitated better collaboration within teams and enhanced my ability to present financial data persuasively."

"The mentorship and skills development coaching have been immensely beneficial. They provide personalized guidance and skills enhancement. Accountability. Networking opportunities. And support for personal growth,

contributing significantly to my professional development and success."

"I have been struggling to allocate my time accordingly during the day and the week. Coaching and mentoring

have assisted me with planning my time ahead and allocating it according to importance and urgency making it easier to complete all tasks on time without any pressure. Coaching and mentoring have introduced me to investing in a journal which has assisted me with dealing with my emotions by writing them down and also writing down all my goals to make them achievable."

"The wellness check-ins with the agents have been beneficial during the program.

The agent offered me resources, guidance, and referrals to help participants cope with my challenges and improve my overall well-being. It is like having a friend."

"The wellness peer support is great. I’m an introvert therefore there are days when I get anxious so it has helped me on how to deal with it. They are things I have been battling with for a long and I was able to talk to them about it."

"Skills training has helped me to improve my creative ability, and manage budgets, leading to better financial decision-making."

"The skills training has taught me to be work-ready, how to handle different types of situations, and how to utilize any information you get."