The City of Cape Town’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development Department marked the start of the construction of the Heideveld Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre with a sod-turning earlier today. With the start of the construction of the R13 million Early Childhood Development Centre in Heideveld, emphasis is once again being placed on the importance of early learning and development that leads to success in future years.

The Heideveld Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre is being built at a cost of R13 million, and approximately 150 children in the infant, toddler and pre-schooler age groups will be accommodated at the facility. The ECD will serve the Heideveld, Welcome Estate and Vanguard communities.

‘The City’s aim of constructing ECD Centres is to support working families and to offer learning opportunities to children from an early age who are living in these communities and who need a stimulating environment during their formative years. This opportunity provides children with the tools needed for emotional, academic, and life-long success,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith.

This facility was designed to be water and energy efficient; and includes natural ventilation and lighting for long-term sustainability.

Other design features include the optimum use of environmental elements such as the sun and wind in conjunction with green technologies such as solar panels. The emphasis is on reducing the need for electricity as solar panels reduce this demand by at least 50%. This also leads to a reduction on operational savings for water and electricity.

‘The City understands that ECD Centres provide children with the tools to succeed in the future. It introduces them to a structured environment that teaches them how to make friends and how to play with each other. These are appropriate behaviours that are necessary in order to promote socialising and learning skills so that they are able to adapt to society and to what is socially acceptable at a later stage in their lives,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Area South, Councillor Siyabulela Mamkeli.

Source: City Of Cape Town