Masikhule, a charity dedicated to empowering Early Childhood Development educators in marginalised communities, has an innovative app, MASKOT, designed to enhance early learning skills and set kids up for success!
Somerset West, South Africa (11 March 2025) – Empowering educators in marginalised communities in Early Childhood Development (ECD) and early learning skills is what drives the Masikhule charity.
Recognising the need for accessible resources, especially in areas with limited internet connectivity, Masikhule, with the support of Upside Trust, transformed its existing curriculum into a downloadable, theme-based programme called MASKOT for children aged 0-5.
MASKOT is an online app that provides educators with classroom resources, early intervention activities, and developmental checklists, ensuring children stay on track with their learning – and thereby effectively addressing concerning stats of children under the age of five not having access to early learning programmes, especially in marginalised communities.
“We named our online, theme-based app MASKOT (Masikhule – Keep On Track), as ultimately our wish is for all children to reach formal schooling firmly on track,” shares Sandy Immelman, Masikhule’s Marketing and Communications Officer.
Throughout the years, Masikhule has created content and tested it with educators attending its early learning programme (ELP) training, with mentors reporting that they had seen positive results in the ECD Centres they visited.
“We expanded our theme-based program for 0–3 and 3–5-year-olds to include vital Early Intervention activities for Gross Motor Skills, Fine Motor Skills, Basic Concepts, Visual Perception and other early learning skills, plus Developmental Checklists,” Sandy adds.
In 2024, MASKOT was officially launched and hosted a number of successful onboarding workshops with other community-based ECD organisations.
The charity has also presented its ELP and MASKOT to the Western Cape Education Department, showcasing its positive impact and the crucial role of early intervention.
“Our aim was to share the positive impact that Masikhule and MASKOT is having within the ECD community. We also had the opportunity to share clear evidence of how Early Intervention and Occupational Therapy are positively impacting and changing outcomes of early child development,” Sandy explains.
Moving forward, MASKOT is expanding and growing this year in order to positively impact thousands of children’s development and ensure they keep on track and are well prepared for formal schooling.
Sources: Supplied
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 