Quality early childhood development leads to better literacy and numeracy outcomes, better performance in primary school, social skills, improved attention spans, improved confidence and resilience and a long term interest in learning. It also leads to fewer behavioural issues which can improve family life. With this in mind, JCH established their Early Childhood Development Centre with the focus on school readiness, proper nutrition and supporting family strength.
 
Annette, the director of the JCH, explained that the charges per month for the children are bracketed based on family income, going from R400 pm to R1200 pm, although no one is currently situated in the highest bracket. Those who are financially able are asked to pay for another child to attend the school.

The passion of the teachers at the ECD centre is encouraging! Currently the centre has 20 children who attend from 08h00 to lunch-time. Tiisetso Mokhethi, the principal of Funda Ngo Thando, has her doctorate in early childhood development and child psychology. Already, her impact on the children and the community at large has been undeniable. The hope is in the next few years they will reach their target number of 60 children, between the ages of 2 and 5 years old, who will be attending the school.

In terms of the renovation, Donald Barrow mentioned that the building used to be the old clubhouse on the Eskom property, which included a bar area decorated with beer branded signs. Barrow was able to transform the clubhouse into a fully functional children’s centre, replacing the bar with a small kitchen where they are now able to serve breakfast, snacks and lunch to the children.