Nurturing Africa’s youngest generation is one of our most urgent responsibilities. Despite significant progress in areas such as health and education, the continent still grapples with substantial deficits in nurturing care. In South Africa alone, more than 1-million children are affected by pit toilets – not only in more than 4,000 schools but also in their homes and communities. This highlights an urgent need for collaborative efforts to secure a brighter future for our children.
To ensure that South African children receive the care and support they need, the government has developed the nurturing care framework, which outlines five essential pillars critical for optimal child development: health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, early learning, and safety. Together, these components form the foundation of a supportive environment where children can thrive. Yet in South Africa, many children are still denied access to these basic needs. Unsafe and unsanitary learning conditions not only compromise health but also hinder children’s ability to reach their full potential.
We must ask ourselves: are we truly fulfilling our duty to provide the care and resources our children deserve? Children cannot learn effectively when they are preoccupied with concerns about their safety and dignity in spaces meant to nurture them. Breadline Africa’s Pit Toilet Campaign aims to address this critical issue by replacing hazardous toilets with safe facilities, ensuring that every child can focus on what matters most: learning and growing in a secure environment.
Public-private partnerships are the key to lasting change
To make real progress, we must recognise that no single organisation or sector can tackle this challenge alone. As the African proverb wisely states: “If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk together.” Public-private partnerships are crucial in our efforts to close South Africa’s nurturing care deficit. By collaborating, we can mobilise the resources, expertise and commitment necessary to make lasting improvements.
Corporate involvement is particularly essential. By investing in vital initiatives like Breadline Africa’s Pit Toilet Campaign, businesses can contribute to a legacy of social impact that transcends short-term gains. These partnerships allow us to leverage each other’s strengths, creating a broader impact than any one of us could achieve independently.
At Breadline Africa, our work extends beyond merely installing toilets. We are dedicated to creating environments where children feel valued, safe and respected. Every facility we install and every child we reach is a step towards breaking the cycle of poverty and inequality that hampers our communities.
However, building a nurturing environment for children entails more than improving infrastructure. It requires a commitment to fostering a culture of care that permeates every aspect of a child’s life – from the quality of education they receive to the support they feel from their communities.
We are dedicated not just to meeting immediate needs, but also to constructing a framework for sustainable change.
Focusing on integrated early childhood care and education equips children with the foundation they need to succeed. Studies consistently demonstrate that investing in quality early childhood development yields significant long-term benefits, not just for children but for society as a whole.
A call to make a difference
As we work to close Africa’s nurturing care deficit, we must recognise the weight of this moment. The choices we make today will shape the future opportunities of our children, determining their roles as economic contributors, taxpayers and leaders. The well-known proverb, “the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the next best time is now,” reminds us that there’s no time to waste. We invite you to stand with us on this journey – not just to build facilities, but to restore hope, dignity and opportunity for generations to come. Whether through funding, partnerships or advocacy, your involvement is powerful. Together, we can ensure that no child is left behind, that every school is equipped with safe, dignified facilities, and that our society upholds values of care and respect for all.
This mission is not merely about improving conditions today; it’s about laying the foundation for lasting change. Because when we walk together, there is no limit to how far we can go.
Khulekani Dlamini is chair of the Breadline Africa board of directors.
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