Children in Rondebosch East and surrounding areas attending the Children of the Light Educare Centre (COLT) are receiving education with a difference. Their education focuses on the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual development of children by establishing independent early childhood development centres based on the principles of Integral Yoga.
“We are a member of the Lansdowne, Kenwyn, Rondebosch and Sybrand Park (LKRS) ECD Forum and we started in October 2017. Our ECD programme offers free, quality education to children living in impoverished communities in Athlone and Lansdowne. Colt is a registered non-profit organisation that relies on donations for all of its funding,” says Mala Makan, founder of the ECD.
A team of committed volunteers, together with four paid members of staff run the Educare.
“Our vision is integral education that nurtures the innate divinity and potential of children. The Educare supports the notion that to “educate” means to “bring out”. The philosophy of the Educare is to create a nurturing and loving space for children to grow, learn and explore through play thus enabling them to be happy.
“Once they feel truly happy, their actions in daily life will be refined and flow from that space of happiness. Hence the school’s motto is: ‘Be Good Do Good’,”she says.
The core pillars that form the foundation of COLT are: serve – be mindful that all you learn is to serve and care for humanity and the environment; love – love is the primary principle that should guide all our actions. Love all beings equally; focus – have an aim in life and focus all your thoughts and actions towards that to be successful; learn – learn all that
you require to lead a happy and meaningful life. Learn about yourself, the world and God,” Mala says.
The COLT Educare is a project of the Children of Light Educare Trust which was established in December 2020.
“In 2017 with the resources available COLT commenced with six children from two communities. Currently we have 20 children who attends the Educare and there are two classes, namely the Sunflower class for three- to five-year-olds and a Grade R class for the five- to six-year olds. It has become necessary to maintain a waiting list for the three communities – Hadj Ebrahim Crescent, Pook se Bos, and Flamingo Heights.
“Children who attend COLT receive:
. Free, quality education
. Transport to and from home
. Educational outings, and winter holiday program
. Holistic curriculum: play indoors/outdoors, gardening, yoga, breathing, baking, arts and crafts
. Health services from the local clinic: primary health care for COLT children, recommended immunisations and relevant documentation.
. Social support for the parents: applications for identity documents, birth certificates, maternity birth records, and social grants.
“We endeavour to work hand in hand with parents to ensure holistic development of the child. Parents are required to attend four quarterly parent-teacher meetings per year,” she says.
Each child’s birthday is a celebration and it is a special day for the child.
“A cake is baked, the table is laid with party décor and treats. Songs are sung and a crown is placed on the child’s head. The arrival date of the child is recognised.
“Each end of term is celebrated with a festival. All the craftworkd made by the children will be displayed and the class will be decorated according to the festival theme. Festivals are chosen according to the season of the year.” Makan says.
The teacher and class-assistant prepares the class with wonder, fostering a spirit of joy.
“Term one we had an Easter Harvest Festival, Term two a Lantern Festival, Term three a Spring Festival, Term four an Advent Festival. The teacher and the class-assistant prepares the outings and this forms an important part of the rhythm of the term.
“At least two outings are planned for each term according to the seasons. The aim of the outing is to foster social and physical development of the child. To allow the child to experience the world. To take a walk on the mountain and experience the trees, play in the streams, socialise with fellow mountain hikers. Parents are invited to one family day outing per year. At the end of the term, we celebrated with a beautiful Spring Festival which included singing the National anthem and celebrating our National flag,” she says.
