Call to join team for SSA ECD Pilot Programme

Dear Members of SCOUTS South Africa,

Towards the end of last year the Board of SCOUTS South Africa gave the Exco approval to proceed with a trial of a pilot programme aimed at addressing the needs of pre-schoolers in the age range of 5-6 years of age.  As many of you will be aware, for the past 12 years there have been a number of Groups operating for this age group, outside of the formal mandate of Scouting.

This new pilot is envisaged to operate totally separate from the existing Branches of Cubs, Scouts and Rovers. Given the mandatory legislative requirements in some of the Provinces for running structured activities for youth of this age, this ECD programme may have to be hosted at suitably equipped early childhood development centres.  The team is tasked with identifying suitable centres as well as identifying the requirements for Groups to house these units in the future.

The Board has agreed to proceed with a trial of the scheme under tight guidelines. To provide the basis for the trial, and to ensure that we have all the answers we need to roll out such a programme, a team has to be put together that will develop the material. The team will also develop the strategy and address the various questions from the membership and other stakeholders around the roll out of the programme.

We are calling for volunteers, both in and outside of the movement who are willing to join and contribute to this project and the trial, to ensure that we are able to provide a valuable addition to the Scouting Family.  As a result, we would like as broad a base of participants and contributors to ensure the results meet the needs of all of our diverse members.

If anyone is interested in joining the team to be part of pushing this project forward, please register your offer of assistance at info@scouts.org.za with the following information:

• your name and contact details (tel, email and address);
• your current role in Scouting, if any;
• any experience you have with ECD age group
• area of the programme development you believe you can add value to.

We look forward to working with the new team and members on this exciting new (ad)venture.

Dr Brendon Hausberger
Chief Commissioner
SCOUTS South Africa

The post Call to join team for SSA ECD Pilot Programme appeared first on Scouts South Africa.