Valcare is excited to announce our strategic partnership with Inceba, a Trust focused on Early Childhood Development (ECD).
Valcare is an Impact Funding Platform which connects funders with organisations who are Valcare network members. This network is made up of more than 190 organisations who share Valcare’s mission to activate and enable social change in community. As ECD schools and facilities make up the majority of NGO’s in the Paarl valley and surrounding areas, it was necessary to work closely with a coordinating and implementing partner specifically focused on this space. Inceba meets this need perfectly as they are an
increasingly vital and effective role player in supporting these ECD schools.
The newly-appointed CEO of Inceba is Nielen Bekker, previously the Regional Manager of Mosaic (an NGO that focuses on orphans and vulnerable children). He speaks on the
importance of ECD’s within the South African context:
“If you look at the serious educational challenges that our country is facing currently, it is clear to see what a crucial task it is to equip and educate children from a very young age.
Inceba has a critical mandate. If we could avoid children from falling behind when they are toddlers, they wouldn’t have to spend the rest of their lives trying to make up for that gap.
If we can do that, we would have a group of educated, motivated young people with hope in their hearts writing their matric exams in 20 years. Imagine that.”
Inceba, which means “mercy”, will focus on three important objectives in 2018: to introduce high quality curricula to teachers; to ensure that children are exposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and; to mentor parents to fulfil their roles as parents to the fullest.
One of the ways Inceba will achieve this, is through their network of “toy libraries” located across Paarl, Wellington, Klapmuts and Franschhoek. These libraries serve as important hubs where school principals and teachers receive training, and have access to educational programmes, activities, toys, books and other resources. Ronel van Tonder, a well-known local expert in curriculum development, is an integral part of Inceba, along with a team of passionate implementing assistants. Inceba also partners with NGO organisations such as Salt and Light and The World Needs a Father, who are experts in the field of parental training and mentorship.
“It has become evident that funders’ contributions can make a tangible difference in community if spent wisely. Valcare thanks our existing funders for allowing incredible opportunities like this – to empower Inceba to activate great change. We also invite businesses to join us to collectively address social challenges in community,” says Ivan Swartz, CEO of Valcare.
Valcare continues to encourage ECD’s to register as Valcare Network members, and Inceba will be the implementation agent going forward. For more information, contact Nielen Bekker at nb@inceba.co.za or Liezl Tolkin at admin@valcare.org.za.
