Kids Collab

🌟 Sharing Success Stories from Our Kids Collab Play Parks Partners! 🌟 At Kids Collab, we recently connected with our Play Parks implementing organisations, who received funding to introduce the programme through ChangeX and The LEGO Foundation South Africa Community Play Fund in 2023, and we are excited to share the incredible feedback we’ve received. Communities engaged in the programme continue to experience meaningful outcomes, as reflected in their stories: 🗣️ “The project will never cease, I guarantee you this, even if we run out of 'conventional' resources because our big focus, which underpins any other, is emphasizing the importance of PLAY. That the primary caregivers are the child's first educators, a concept which takes long for parents, grannies, aunties to understand because they are not 'educated'. We keep on reiterating that just like our famous 3-legged pot, the parents, the child, and our skilled facilitators will cook up a storm 😊.” 🗣️ “It is with great excitement and smiles all round to inform you that the parents are using the resources like none other. If you will recall, my rationale was that, in our poor, disadvantaged communities, such resources are a treasure where putting bread on the table supersede anything else.” 🗣️ “The Kids Collab PlayParks Programme has been a valuable and enriching experience for our community. The memories and lessons learned will continue to be cherished and applied. We have found that the programme has strengthened our sense of community, provided safe and engaging spaces for children to play and learn, and promoted healthy lifestyles and physical activity. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate and look forward to collaborating on future initiatives that support our children and families. Thank you for your continued support and partnership.” 🗣️ “The first will be the smiles ☺ in the kids’ faces and also them asking for plays each time they see us/our young ladies on the streets. Parents asking for more plays and mentioning that the plays have brought smiles to their children... as many do not even have toys.” 🗣️ “One notable success is the visible interest from parents who actively play a role in the initiative. They are not only supportive by watching and cheering but also actively getting involved in the PlayParks activities. This increased parental engagement is a positive indicator of community involvement and the broader acceptance of PlayParks as a valuable and enjoyable initiative for families.” This feedback reaffirms the significant impact of PlayParks in creating vibrant, engaged communities. We look forward to continuing this journey with all our partners, thanks to the support from ChangeX and The LEGO Foundation.🎉 #KidsCollab #PlayParks #ChangeX #SouthAfricaCommunityPlayFund #CommunityEngagement #ChildDevelopment #PlayMatters #CommunityInvolvement

The Power of Parents and Caregivers in Education: Unlocking Potential through Engagement In South Africa, significant gaps in the quality of early years education are often further hindered by a lack of meaningful parental involvement. But what if we redefined “parental involvement” to recognise parents as essential partners in their children’s education? The Parent Power programme by DG Murray Trust empowers parents as active participants in their children's education by fostering meaningful partnerships between schools, parents, and communities. The initiative addresses key questions: • What if parents truly understood what quality education looks like and their role in ensuring it? • How can we build strong partnerships between parents and schools? • What changes when parents become active agents in their children’s education? In a country where 55% of the population lives in poverty, and 79% of adults with no or low education are trapped in poverty, the challenge is significant. Many parents face inflexible work schedules, long commutes, and limited resources, making it difficult to participate in their children's schooling in traditional ways. Despite these barriers, research shows that parental encouragement and support can significantly improve learner outcomes, even in underperforming schools. If there is ever a time when parent involvement is most crucial, it’s during a child’s early years. In the first few years of life, more than one million neural connections are formed every second... Let that sink in. Fathers, mothers, and caregivers play a pivotal role in shaping a child’s future. To give children the best start in life, they need love, health, good nutrition, learning opportunities, care, and protection. This is where Parent Playbox makes a difference. A joint initiative by Kids Collab and Learn To Play - Ithute Go Tshameka, Parent Playbox empowers caregivers in underserved communities by providing accessible, hands-on early childhood development (ECD) resources. Through a series of weekly activities, play prompts, and comprehensive training, the programme equips parents with the knowledge and confidence to nurture their children's development at home. By promoting nurturing care and strengthening parent-child bonds, the Parent Playbox helps create supportive, enriching environments where children can flourish. #ParentPower #ECD #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ParentPlaybox #PlayfulParenting #Empowerment #ChildDevelopment

✨Never Underestimate the Power of Play and what it can do for our communities✨ At Kids Collab, we're always inspired by the power of play and the incredible work being done by our community partners. Recently, we had the pleasure of connecting with Tuelo Ditlhabela and his team at TVD Performing Arts Extravaganza, who have been making a significant impact in the Kimberley community through their Play Parks Kasi Heritage Project since November last year. Funded through the ChangeX and The LEGO Foundation South African Community Play Fund, TVD Performing Arts Extravaganza created safe, creative play spaces for children in their community, with parents, partner organisations and community members coming together on a weekly basis. The feedback on the impact of the project has been overwhelmingly positive: 💬 "This is a whole new environment for the kids. The excitement and determination. I'm happy I am a part of this and can add hope and happiness in our kids' lives." 💬 "Today it was a blessing to have all the children coming to participate in the Play Parks. The event was a success and it was amazing as we had performances in between." Here is what Tuelo (Play Parks Leader) had to say, “The demand for Play Parks in our community in Kimberley has been incredible. Parents have seen tremendous value in the programme, and the team’s commitment is inspiring. Our parents and children keep asking when we are coming. We do the sessions for two hours and the children just don't want to leave. We are not going to get tired because this is what gives us hope and brings light into our community. We are even working with other stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of the programme, training others and contributing our own resources to keep the initiative going. We're thrilled to share that TVD Performing Arts Extravaganza has been accepted to run Play Parks again this year, and we can't wait to see where this journey takes us.” This team's dedication not only brings light and hope to us at Kids Collab but also to their own community, and we are so proud to support such a meaningful project. Here's to another year of bringing joy, connection, and play to the children of Kimberley! 🌟 #PlayParks #CommunityImpact #KidsCollab #GrassrootsInnovation #ChildhoodDevelopment #PlayMatters

Exciting funding opportunity for UK based Early Years Practitioners, schools and communities. As part of the recently launched ChangeX UK Community Play Fund (supported by The LEGO Foundation), communities, schools/ nurseries and organisations can apply to receive our Kids Collab Play Hub along with funding to implement our programme. There are a few funding spots left so apply today to get in! 🌟 Use the link below. UK Community Play Fund Application Page: https://lnkd.in/dBt-BDs6 The Kids Collab's Play Hub provides schools and communities with the neccessary knowledge, tools, and resources to enhance physical education, fundamental movement skills, mindfulness and well-being in children ages 2-6 years. Don't wait, applications work on a first come, first serve basis. #UKCommunityPlayFund #KidsCollab #LEGOFoundation #ChangeX #PlayParks #ParentPlayBox #PlayHub

🎉 We are thrilled to announce that our Kids Collab innovations have been selected for the ChangeX and The LEGO Foundation South Africa Community Play Fund and UK Community Play Fund, which launched this week! 🙌 This initiative provides communities in the UK and South Africa with the opportunity to implement our solutions focused on early years learning, play, physical development and wellbeing. We invite educators, schools, community groups, and NPOs to apply for this incredible opportunity! Enhance your impact as a school or organisation by applying for funding through the links below. Don't wait, applications work on a first come, first serve basis. A huge thank you to ChangeX and The LEGO Foundation for making this possible! South Africa Community Play Fund Application Pages: Play Parks: https://lnkd.in/dnBFy-w5 Parent Play Box: https://lnkd.in/ds6xXMgE Play Hub: https://lnkd.in/dYX9JhGw UK Community Play Fund Application Page: https://lnkd.in/dBt-BDs6 🌟 #CommunityPlayFund #KidsCollab #LEGOFoundation #ChangeX #PlayParks #ParentPlayBox #PlayHub

🌟 An overflowing cup ❤ On Friday, June 21st, Kids Collab hosted our first-ever International Day of Play Event, a day declared by the United Nations and supported by ChangeX and The LEGO Foundation. We seized this opportunity to organise our biggest Motivate to Move event yet, in collaboration with the Lions Rugby Company . The entire Lions Currie Cup team participated, and we were on a mission to create one massive PLAY FEST! We reached out to children's homes, orphanages, ECD centres, and schools, inviting them to a free and accessible morning of PLAY. The event exceeded all our expectations. We had Gauteng Department of Education attend, SABC recorded a segment for airing, and the entire Lions management team joined around 400 children and 100 parents, caregivers, and educators in the fun. Children, as always, were enthusiastic and open-hearted. 90% of the children in attendance came from disadvantaged backgrounds, making this outing incredibly special and memorable for them. What stood out for me was the incredible attitude of these players. They stepped onto the field, surrounded by these tiny bodies, and their "hard" exteriors melted away. They softened and brought out their inner child for these little superheroes. For a few hours, we broke down so many barriers, and it was incredible to witness—we were so proud to be part of this. The importance of play cannot be overstated—it fosters joy, learning, and growth. The Lions players, true giants among men, served as positive role models, showing these children that they are valued and supported. I hope this inspires others to recognise the power of play and the profound impact we can have on our children 🦸🏾 #MotivatetoMove #InternationalDayofPlay #LionsRugby #KidsCollab #PlayMatters #CommunityImpact #RoleModels