‘Now we are going to play!’
That was one of the joyful responses at the PEN Preschool Forum to the second delivery of ASAP-funded educational toys on February 23, 2021.
This delivery included 14 plastic crates, three additional boxes full of toys, educational resources, and loose items too big for the crates. PEN will use these educational toys in the 56 preschools in their network to help develop cognitive, motor, and relational skills in children from underprivileged backgrounds.
In South Africa, this kind of early child development is seen as a key aspect of the huge struggle against the poverty afflicting large parts of the population, particularly the 82% non-white citizens. By developing basic skills, love for learning, and self-confidence, preschool children are prepared to make a success of their school education. And if they can make a success of school, they can become productive members of society lifting themselves, and often their families, out of poverty.
It starts with play, but it leads to so much more.
Marlèse Nel with a feelings poster that is part of the second donation of ASAP sponsored educational toys delivered to the PEN Preschool Forum in Pretoria, South Africa. Marlèse is ASAP’s South African partner who, in liaison with PEN, selects which educational toys to buy. She is also responsible for sourcing and buying the toys.
Boxes full of educational toys before they were packed into the plastic crates. One set of seven crates were packed with the same set of toys in each crate, and another set of seven crates with another selection of toys in them.
One of the educational toys delivered to PEN’s Preschool Forum. The box contains 18 puzzles with 2 pieces each, matching different concepts that form an association - all made of wood. They are not called learn-a-lot-games for nothing.
Another educational toy that develops different basic skills. They include fine motor control, eye-hand coordination, visual perception, crossing the mid-line of the body, as well as planning and concentrating.
A selection of wooden vehicles of different shapes and colors to help children to begin to understand the huge world of transport.
Staff members of the PEN Preschool Forum with the second donation of ASAP sponsored educational toys. This makes a huge difference in their work.