The  

largest  

ever  

conducted  

survey  

in  

SA  

found  

that  

two  

in  

three  

of  

4–5-year-olds  

in  

SA  

are  

failing  

to  

thrive.

More  

than  

5  

000  

children  

aged  

4-5  

years  

enrolled  

in  

various  

types  

of  

Early  

Learning  

Programmes  

(ELPs)  

around

the country were assessed in three areas: early learning, physical growth, and social emotional functioning.

Less

than

half

of

4–5-year-olds

are

on

track

for

learning.

The

Index

reports

that

55%

of

children

attending

ELPs

are

not

able

to

do

the

learning

tasks

expected

of

children

their

age,

with

28%

of

children

falling

far

behind the expected standard.

For

social

emotional

functioning,

the

Index

found

that

27.5%

of

children

did

not

meet

the

standard

when

it

came

to

age-appropriate

social

relations

with

peers

and

adults,

while

33.4%

were

found

to

not

be

emotionally ready for school.

Unfortunately, we must assume that the situation in Namibia is similar.

Children

thrive

by

age

five

when,

from

birth,

they

experience

a

nurturing

and

safe

environment,

and

they

have

access

to

quality

healthcare

and

nutrition,

as

well

as

opportunities

for

learning

–

both

in

the

home

and

in kindergarten.

The

Rotary

Club

of

Goslar-Nordharz

together

with

the

Rotary

Club

of

Wernigerode

saw

the

need

for

change

at

the

Oponganda

Pre-Primary

&

DayCare

–

governed

by

THE

CHILDREN’S

HOUSE

TRUST

and

helped

creating an outstanding baby- and toddler environment based on the Montessori Method.

With

their

support

children

in

the

Grysblok

community

have

not

only

a

chance

to

thrive

by

five

but

to

succeed later in life as well.