The children of SANParks’ staff and other local, little learners were recently gifted two new classrooms as Skukuza ECD continues to grow the next generation of eco-champions and leaders:
Kruger National Park, South Africa (08 May 2024) — SANParks’ staff members and their children have welcomed newly donated classrooms for Skukuza Early Childhood Development Centre with open arms.
Handed over on 3 May to SANParks’ CEO, Hapiloe Sello on behalf of the Kruger National park, the freshlybuild classrooms as well as a storeroom will make a surmountable difference for the young minds just beginning their schooling careers.
Skukuza ECD is a special place for SANParks’ staff members and their families. As SANParks shares, the Centre provides foundation-phase education for the staff’s children as well as other residents in Skukuza from as young as 18 months to 5-years-old. In this way, it acts as a first step leading to Skukuza Primary School, and has 95 pre-schoolers.
Weekly, the little learners get to enjoy themes that explore environmental and conservation mindsets as part of their curriculum. From day tours to demonstrations (like SANParks Veterinary Team lessons and anti-poaching patrols), the ECD is focused on building a future for kiddies who might just help save the planet.
However, the ECD centre had become overpopulated with little learners.
The four classrooms (Bush Baby for the infants, Hippo for the toddlers, Giraffe for the older toddlers and Lion for the young kids) saw more children join the ECD, meaning it was time to expand.
Two new classrooms and a storeroom have now lightened the load of worries for the Centre, made possible by corporate kindness.
“A strong building requires a strong foundation, which in turn requires a strong cornerstone. Our children who are beneficiaries of these facilities today are the future of this country and that is why it makes me proud to be a part of [the handover] proceedings. An occasion that will be remembered as a foundation towards the development of tomorrow’s future leaders,” said Hapiloe Sello of the big occasion.
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