The Santa Shoebox Legacy Projects bring permanent change to the lives of beneficiary children and to the impoverished communities in which they live. Our project initiatives fall under three broad categories:
Build
Establishing new and transforming existing Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in rural South Africa, in line with requirements for registration with the Department of Basic Education enabling access to social grants.
Learn
Training ECD practitioners in support of learners achieving developmental milestones, such as perceptual skills and learning through play.
Read
Installing reading corners in ECD centres, with training to ensure that books are incorporated into all aspects of ECD, such as gross and fine motor skills, language, behavioural, cognitive and social-emotional development.
Most of the operating costs of the Santa Shoebox Project are covered by the Project’s main sponsor PEP.
All private financial donations contribute towards
the Santa Shoebox Legacy
Projects to Date
COVID Response
SSP Legacy funds were allocated to various NPOs aligned to UN Sustainable Development Goals, aiding impoverished communities during the Covid19 crisis. These include Fundiswa Umntwana who provided food for more than 600 people in Winterton, Feed Rural KZN who fed 6 500 in Mbazwana, and Rise Against Hunger, who distribute food and promote sustainable agriculture nationally. Additionally, FoodFlow SA, Abalimi Bezekhaya, Save the Sheep, Abalobi, Epic Foundation, Subz, and Little Sun were engaged with, addressing diverse issues from food security to sustainable energy solutions.
Fairfield Créche
The Fairfield Créche was built on a farm in Ceres in the Western Cape and is attended by the farm-worker’s children. The building was previously an unused storage facility, and was upgraded to provide a fully equipped classroom and fenced play area to accommodate more than 30 children.
Soul City ECD
Soul City, led by Cecelia Mbatha, has educated 40 children annually in rural KwaZulu Natal’s Loskop region since 2012. The humble mud daub structure required frequent repairs due to the area’s humid climate. Despite chalenges, Cecelia fostered a nurturing environment, attending workshops and collaborating with NPOs on nutrition programmes. Soul City is now a registered fully fitted ECD Centre housed in a brick building, boasting two classrooms, a kitchen, an office / sick bay, covered veranda, fenced play area, water tank, toilets and a food garden.
Partners: Impande, Al-Imdaad Foundation, Forge Agri and Gift of the Givers
Qandokuhle ECD
SSP Legacy’s 4th BUILD project, Qandokuhle Créche in the uThukela District of KZN, was presented to the community on 29 July 2023. Qandokuhle has two classrooms, two toilets, a kitchen and an office – all fully kitted out. It also has a delightful playground and is fenced in to ensure the safety of the 40 children in attendance. The heartwarming and uplifting opening ceremony was attended by the local Chief and his tribal ministers, as well as the entire surrounding community, who performed traditional Zulu dances and sang praise songs.
ECD Reading Corners
It’s concerning that 80% of grade 4 learners struggle with reading comprehension, and many start Grade 1 without ever holding a book. Through READ, the SSP Legacy established reading corners in underprivileged ECD centers, benefiting nearly 10,000 children in Samora Machel, Alexandra, and Diepsloot. Each corner includes a bookshelf with 100 books, seating, cushions, and an interactive rug, all provided …
ECD Practioner Training
Many Early Childhood Development practitioners lack proper qualifications. The SSP Legacy addresses this by teaming up with expert trainers to offer skill-building opportunities. Through the Santa Shoebox Project’s extensive network, supported by private donors and organizations, practitioners are connected to suitable service providers. Instead of starting from scratch, the SSP Legacy collaborates with established NPOs to maximize resources for the ECD sector’s benefit.
Partners: ORT SA CAPE, Singakwenza Siphakeme and The Reach Trust