// Early Care and Education Programme (ECEP)

Early Care and Education Programme (ECEP)

At Pebbles Project, we believe that every child deserves the best possible start in life. Our Early Care and Education Programme (ECEP) supports children from the very beginning; from conception up to the age of five. The ECEP is divided into two sub-programmes:

First Thousand Days (FTD) supports children from conception to 2.5 years.
Early Childhood Development (ECD) supports children aged 2.5 to 5 years.

The ECEP is delivered at the Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres located on our partner farms. Each centre runs daily from 07:00 to 17:00, depending on the specific needs of the farm and its community. The ECEP is offered in several regions including Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Wellington, Citrusdal, Grabouw and the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus.

Pebbles Project aims to provide children from farming communities with safe, stimulating environments in which to learn, grow, and thrive.

First Thousand Days (FTD) Programme

A child’s first thousand days are full of possibility, and fundamentally shape their health, learning, and happiness later in life. The First Thousand Days (FTD) Programme supports children during this crucial early stage with a daily learning programme and regular training for Practitioners, equipping them with the skills to help every child flourish.

Mothers are at the heart of the programme too, we offer antenatal classes and promote responsive, loving interactions that support both maternal and infant health. Guided by the Nurturing Care Framework, the FTD Programme focuses on the whole child, from conception to 2.5 years, by supporting their education, caregiving, safety, nutrition, and health. Our goal is simple: to give every child a strong, loving foundation for a bright future.

For more information on the initiatives of the FTD Programme, please click here.

Impact Story

Read Ruth’s inspiring story here.

Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programme

Farms are often far from towns and have limited transport options, which means many children living on farms miss out on attending Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres. As a result, they risk falling behind their peers once they start school. That is why it is crucial to provide children from farming communities with access to quality early learning.

Pebbles Project improves learning and teaching in ECD centres by training local women to become skilled Practitioners, by offering ongoing support, delivering a comprehensive ECD curriculum and providing accredited ECD training.

The ECD Programme nurtures children aged 2.5 to 5, so they can grow with confidence through their most formative years.

For more information on the initiatives of the ECD Programme, please click here.