The needy community of Pakkies Farm in Kokstadt KZN received a shot in the arm and an early Christmas gifts after the Department of Social Development in collaboration with the National Lotteries Commission officially handed over a newly built state-of-the art Early Childhood Development structure to them today.

This is part of the Department's public private partnership projects that seeks to scale up investment in Early Childhood Development, particularly in the poor rural areas, to give rural children an early start for a better future.

Social Development Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu officially handed over the Power of Prayer ECD at a ceremony held on 28 November 2019 in Pakkies farm closer to Kokstadt town in kwaZulu Natal Province.

During the 2018 State of Nation Address (SONA) President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that “If we are to break the cycle of poverty, we need to educate the children of the poor.” Taking cue from President Ramaphosa’s clarion call, South Africa is making serious investment in its future, with specific focus on improving early educational outcome for children in rural and disadvantaged communities and as guided by the National Development Plan (Vision 2030).