Holistic, effective and innovative: Insights from the collaborative Yizani Sifunde early literacy project
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Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Liberty Community Trust, Wordworks, Book Dash and Nal'ibali
Abstract
The infographic is a 4-page summary of the multi-pronged early literacy project called Yizani Sifunde, and the impact it has had, based on the results of an independent evaluation. The project was a collaboration of five South African NGOs and implemented between 2021 and 2023 in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
The infographic starts by explaining the problem that the project was trying to address and the multi-pronged project that was designed in response to it, loosely inspired by the "triple cocktail for education" developed for foundation phase classes in South Africa (training, resources and support/modelling). However, being designed for 4-5 year-olds, the project design went beyond a mere classroom intervention to include intervention elements targeting the homes, caregivers, and the broader community.
The document then summarises findings from internal monitoring and external evaluation, revealing remarkable learning gains on the ELOM (Early Learning Outcomes Measure) for the participating children, that go far beyond the expected child maturation. These learning gains are particularly remarkable for children who were identified as vulnerable at baseline. The document then goes on to describe the shifts that were observed in the participating ECD centres (using qualitative observations and ECERS results) as well as in the homes and communities.
Finally, the document highlights elements that have contributed to the project's success, namely the mechanisms of the collaboration and the supportive attitude of the funder.
Description
The Yizani Sifunde (isiXhosa for ‘Come, let’s read) was designed as a model to improve preschool children’s early learning outcomes. The project combined abundant book ownership (Book Dash), training on an in-classroom early literacy programme called Little Stars (Wordworks) and community activations (Nal’ibali).
More information about Yizani Sifunde is available on the Book Dash website https://bookdash.org/yizani-sifunde/
The document is published with permission by Liberty Community Trust and in acknowledgement of the contribution of Social Impact Insights Africa, who planned and implemented the external evaluation.
Katie Huston wrote the text and Skyboy Design produced the graphics.
Keywords
Early learning, Early literacy, Early Childhood Development, Yizani Sifunde, South Africa, Eastern Cape, ECD centres, Liberty Community Trust, Wordworks, Nal'ibali, Book Dash, Khululeka, ITEC, Child assessment, ELOM, Pre-Grade R, Impact Infographic, Evaluation, Collaboration, Caregiver workshops, Parents, ECERS, Home Learning Environment, Triple-Cocktail approach, Children's Books, Book ownership, Little Stars, Story Sparkers, Reading
Citation
Yizani Sifunde (2024): Holistic, effective and innovative: insights from the collaborative Yizani Sifunde early literacy project. Based on an external evaluation by Social Impact Insights Africa and funded by the Liberty Community Trust. Cape Town.