Cape Classics, which launched the Indaba Education Fund (IEF), is receiving enthusiastic financial support from its business partners and benefactors in America, to provide early childhood teacher training, learning materials and educational infrastructure to uplift young, at-risk children living in the South African Winelands.
André Shearer, CEO and co-founder of Cape Classics, says the funding has enabled the IEF to realise a key initiative – the establishment of the Indaba Montessori Institute outside Stellenbosch, for the training of Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers who will positively impact the lives of thousands of children.
The practical part of the training takes place at the Lynedoch Early Learning Centre, which is situated at the Sustainability Institute on the R310 outside Stellenbosch, and caters mostly to farm workers’ children.
The IEF has also funded the provision of educational materials, as well as upgrades to the classrooms and surrounding gardens at the Lynedoch Early Learning Centre.
“Early Childhood Development is a beacon of light and an opportunity for us to create a positive education beginning for so many,” says Mr Shearer.
“Our long term goal is to have an impact over a 25 to 100 year period, that will truly be able to change a global paradigm.
“We want to offer as many children as we can, the chance to write a different and happy ending to their stories,” according to Mr Shearer.
The IEF’s mission is funded by a portion of global sales of Cape Classics’ Indaba Wines brand, as well as through fundraising and private donations. For information visit www.indabaeducationfund.org
