Sanlam and GDE partner with Wordworks to grow Little Stars
October 2024
At Wordworks, we are committed to encouraging meaningful collaboration with partners across various sectors, especially those that support early childhood education South Africa.
Our partnership with Sanlam and the Gauteng Department of Education exemplifies this commitment. Together, we aim to address the literacy crisis in South Africa, as highlighted by the PIRLS report, and create impactful change in our communities. This initiative is already making significant strides in Gauteng, and we are excited about the positive outcomes we are witnessing.
Recently, two of our Early Literacy Specialists visited ECD centres in Gauteng where the Little Stars programme is being implemented. This visit was not just an ordinary check-in; the team travelled to the province to celebrate the graduation of ECD practitioners who had completed the eight-session Little Stars programme. As the graduates prepared to receive their certificates, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and pride. The walls showcased proud displays of their achievements, and innovative learning resources were on display as everyone celebrated the practitioners’ achievements.
By empowering ECD practitioners, we are making a significant impact on the literacy development of the children in their care. The Little Stars programme demonstrates how dedicated and intentional teaching can shape young minds and encourage a love for learning. Speaking on her journey, this is what Niesl van Rensberg, a teacher at Syringa Pre-Primary School had to say, “The programme has enhanced my confidence in my teaching approach. It has given me structure while also allowing room for creativity. My learners enjoy the role playing component of the programme, as it has really encouraged them to showcase their personalities and creativity.”
Collaboration among government, corporate partners, and NGOs is essential for achieving progress in early literacy. Wordworks has a long-standing history of working alongside provincial education departments, and we believe that these partnerships yield valuable insights and positive outcomes. We are committed to maintaining this trajectory of collaboration and growth.
“This year we trained the ECD practitioners on the EWC and Little Stars programmes. As trainers, we’ve shared a lot of new information with the practitioners but we’ve also learnt so much from each of them. The information we learned from them helped us understand how we can further support and mentor the practitioners.” Natasha Rosen, Wordworks Early Literacy Specialist.
The impact of the Little Stars programme on both ECD practitioners and the children in these centres is evident. It shows the significant difference that dedicated teaching and intentionality can make in shaping young minds. We would like to thank the Sanlam Foundation and the Gauteng Department of Education for making the implementation of this programme possible, and we anticipate its continued growth in the province. We are also excited about its continued growth and impact in the Western Cape with the Western Cape Department of Education.
Together, through partnerships like the Little Stars programme, we can build a brighter future for our children and lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
*The Little Stars programme is for pre-Grade R teachers working with 4–5 year old children. The programme is designed to strengthen language and emergent literacy in pre-Grade R classrooms. It is interactive, activity-rich, NCF-aligned and is built around a 2-week story-based framework.
