Cape Town: Centre for Creative Education faces threat of closing
The Centre for Creative Education (CCE) in Cape Town supports approximately 6,000 children in Educare Centres enabling them to grow up in a child-friendly environment. The CCE is the most important and so far only state recognized Waldorf teacher training facility in Africa - important not only for students from South Africa but also from other African countries.
On 24 October 2011 the Friends of Waldorf Education received an urgent call for help. CCE is missing at least € 137,000. So far, the budget of the CCE has been financed by grants from the National Lottery Fund, which have failed to materialize this year. Already in the third month in a row, the CCE can no longer pay the salaries of the faculty and staff. “I've always believed in our own strength, but we will not make it out of our own initiative this time,” sais Helen Stotko, managing director of CCE.
“In the current budget the scheduled 1.5 million South African Rand (~ € 137 000) are now missing. The CCE therefore faces the most difficult situation since 18 years.”
Most people in South Africa still live below the poverty line. Education thus becomes a luxury good rather than a fundamental human right. In the South African townships 75% of children below age six do not attend kindergarten. During the day, they are often locked up at home by their parents out of fear and spend the time watching television.
The Centre for Creative Education in Cape Town is the only independent teacher training institution in South Africa. With tireless enthusiasm the facility prepares women from the townships for their pioneering work as teachers in Educare Centres. The Educare Centres, which often begin in corrugated iron huts, work with the simplest means for the youngest children aged 0-3 years and have their doors open for all children, regardless of their origin.
“The desire to attend school is closely related to the environment of the children. This is what we do at the CCE: Prepare teachers for the harsh world in the townships, where it is not normal for children to be motivated to attend school, where the bleak Township environment brings with it tough experiences of interpersonal relations, where the young people no longer believe in their own future. Our education adds dignity, respect and affection to their lives,” says Helen Stotko.
The training offered by the CCE has become quite diverse. In addition to the Bachelor for Education as a full-time or part-time study, one can now earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Eurythmy, and the Diploma in Early Childhood Development.
Following the loss of the lottery funds, CCE has been working on crisis management solutions during recent months. Alongside the Executive Board, the teachers Silke Sponheuer and Joan Sleigh support this process and look for new long-term opportunities.
In addition, permanent contact with the authorities has been established. Regardless of the financial crisis, the education authority has again successfully accredited CCE’s training programs this year and a keen interest in Waldorf education is indicated as before.
In order to create a strong foundation for the future, the CCE will offer additional officially recognized teacher-training programs. Other measures are under way. And in order to stimulate the research, the centre seeks to work in cooperation with the University of Johannesburg. There are already two extensive research projects that deal with Waldorf education in South Africa. Furthermore, present opportunities for student jobs are going to be expanded.
And finally, a “fundraising drive” was launched with Waldorf schools, staff, friends, students and volunteers participating. Everything is being done, in order to become independent of Lottery funds in the future.
However, until the end of the year € 137,000 are desperately needed. Please help to ensure that the CCE can at least cover its costs for this year and the seminar can continue with its valuable work.
Thanking you in advance,
Nana Göbel, Henning Kullak-Ublick, Bernd Ruf, Andreas Schubert
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