Oasis provides funding to Centre for Early Childhood Development (CECD)
June is a month in which we as South African’s acknowledge the Children and Youth of our Country, renew our pledge to protect them and their rights and celebrate their vibrant energy, innocence creativity and enquiring minds.
It is therefore fitting that on 1 June, which is International Children’s Day, the Oasis Group handed a R4.7 Million cheque to the Centre for Early Childhood Development (CECD) towards the advancement of teacher and caregiver skills as well as the upgrade and development of early childhood development facilities.
Part of the Group’s head office facility in Cape Town was transformed into classrooms as well as a colourful playground as it opened its doors to welcome over 150 children and teachers to spend the day with them. Oasis reached its 19th Anniversary on 1 June and as is tradition, celebrates with the children of the community.
Oasis Deputy Chairperson, Nazeem Ebrahim said, “a birthday is incomplete without the singular joy on a child’s face when he sings happy birthday to you. The joy in a child is infectious and will make anyone happy, so why not open the doors and celebrate with them, especially those that don’t have opportunities to have a party like this. Children force us to remain grounded and they allow us to all be young at heart.
When I spend time with all the children that form part of Oasis on-going projects within the community, I come away with a determination to keep making this world better for them. I want to protect them, give them every opportunity towards a fantastic education and see them grow and become successful in their lives”.
The handover of funding will bring Oasis investment towards early childhood education to well over R10 Million, of which, a total of R6.5 Million has been channelled through to the CECD. Oasis has established a partnership with the CECD as part of its determined focus towards developing and advancing education in South Africa. Spearheading Oasis investment into education is the Group’s Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Adam Ebrahim.
The project undertaken with the CECD is of personal interest to Adam who is very passionate about creating opportunities for the youth of South Africa. At the handover event, which was attended by Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, Adam said that, “the lag faced in education today is not because of poor education but because we as individuals have forgotten that it is also our responsibility to create sufficient opportunities to allow our children to access education. Only we can stimulate and channel their creativity, their hunger for knowledge and learning effectively.
We cannot leave communities and people to continue in a generational cycle of social and economic deprivation knowing that we can do something about it. Everyone has a role to play when it comes to advancing our people, but especially our children. They have a right to be protected, a right to education, a right to truly live in economic and social freedom. We must create a better society for them and that is why we have invested so deeply into advancing education at all levels in our country”.
Adam’s hands-on approach towards all the educational-focused projects undertaken by the Group is given exactly the same level of focus that he channels into the business. Under his leadership, Oasis range of localised wealth management solutions and services are available to the markets of South Africa, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Qatar, Switzerland, Mauritius, Singapore, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Malaysia amongst others.
With a penchant for learning, Adam also joined the children that came to the Group’s head office for some of their class sessions. He said: “our intention by inviting the children is not to disrupt their day. They are here with their teachers, in a class room set up for them and we will have our party but it is a school day so it is still business as usual”.
Minister of Basic Education Mrs. Angie Motshekga acknowledges the immense contribution made by the Oasis Group.
“It seems fitting that as we are celebrating 40 years since the 1976 youth uprising in Soweto, where children were fighting for quality education, we can celebrate the progress we have made in attaining their dream and this contribution from the Oasis Group will go a long way towards achieving the goals of quality education for all. This is a fitting way to begin youth month and to honour that generation by ensuring that learners have access to quality Early Childhood Development. We have to thank the Oasis Group for their generous contribution and hope to sustain this partnership well into the furture,” said Motshekga.
The funding for the CECD will benefit communities in Athlone, Bishop Lavis, Bonteheuwel, New Crossraods, Mission Station, Phillipi, Bloemkos, Wallacedene and Scotssdene; areas within the Western Cape where support is most needed. Professor Eric Atmore, CEO of the CECD said that, “the funding will ensure children; especially those in their formative years and who are entrusted to caregivers are exposed to developmental play and learning.
Oasis initially funded a similar but smaller scaled project in 2012 to ensure that training was provided to caregivers so that they have the skill set to better teach children. Over time a number of informal aftercare/childcare groups were gradually converted into proper playschools and recognised ECD facilities.
We assisted these facilities access funding, manage their schools and provide real playgroups and sites of learning for the children within the communities. We are very happy to have Oasis on board as our partner and receive this substantial cash injection to expand the project into so many needy communities. It makes such a huge difference when children are exposed to early formative learning as it allows them to adjust and become far more receptive to knowledge transfer and enquiry when they enter the formal school system”.
Enquiries:
Nazeem Ebrahim
Group Spokesperson: Oasis Group Holdings
Cell: 083 703 3155
Tel: 021 413 7860 or 021 413 7878
E-mail: marketing@oasiscrescent.com
Rukea Shaik
Spokesperson: Centre for Early Childhood Development
Tel: 021 683 2420
E-mail: rshaik@cecd.org.za
Troy Martens
Ministerial Spokesperson
Tel: 012 357 3000
E-mail: Martens.t@dbe.gov.za
