Overview

Since formation in 1984, TREE has worked towards a vision of assisting adults (mostly women) from disadvantaged communities provide their young children with access to quality ECD Programmes, that promote the child’s holistic development, support, health & welfare.

TREE’s core business is to make accessible a wide range of training courses in Early Childhood Development, so that the adults who impact on young children’s lives, can ensure that they provide children with optimal opportunities to grow and develop to their fullest potential. We focus particularly on communities where children are made vulnerable through poverty and HIV/AIDS.

TREE is accredited to train ECD practitioners (pre-school/crèche/ECD site teachers) in Core and Elective ECD unit standards at NQF (National Qualifications Framework) Levels 1, 4 and 5. TREE’s training is in weekly blocks, interspersed with visits to the ECD practitioner at the site for assessment and on-site support. All courses have integrated information on HIV/AIDS as it pertains to young children, and in addition, we have an Elective course on HIV/AIDS and young children.

TREE offers various short courses geared at assisting the principal/supervisor and parents’ committee improve their understanding and skills in governance, financial management and fundraising. As most of the ECD sites cannot afford toys and educational equipment, we teach them to make such toys and equipment from waste, using a specific technique called Appropriate Paper Technology. Our Parenting programme is non-didactic and aims at building parents’ confidence, as well as raising their awareness about the growth and developmental rights of young children.

TREE training also impacts on women’s education, women’s empowerment and community development, in addition to its impact in the field of Early Childhood Development. TREE training is accredited with The Education and Training Development Product (ETDP) SETA and provides various levels of up to date curriculum, materials and training to educare teachers (practitioners) as well as providing on-site support and monitoring, access to low cost resources and educational equipment.