Pictured at the children's Sports Day, in Ocean View, are Fazli Schroeder of AJF (Anwar Jakoet Foundation); Nicolette Stringer, principal of Little Warriors Playgroup; Leverne Arries, principal of Little Footprints Preschool; Whitney Franke, principal of Small Adventures Educare; Anwar Jakoet, founder of AJF; Melissa Brown, principal of Little Rascals Daycare; and Gail Simon, principal of Little People Educare.
Image: supplied
The Anwar Jakoet Foundation (AJF), a non-profit company focused on early childhood development (ECD), visited five ECD centres in Ocean View on Tuesday, 16 July, to deliver essential supplies to young learners.
The foundation donated educational materials, sports items, soft toys, blankets, beanies, and breakfast essentials.
The Small Adventures Preschool children enjoying their educational toys and beanies donated by the Anwar Jakoet Foundation (AJF).
Image: supplied
Nicolette Stringer, principal of Little Warriors Educare, said: “I’m a qualified Level 5 ECD practitioner and opened the centre in 2022. I don’t ask parents to bring supplies — I get everything myself — and that’s why AJF’s support means so much.”
Ms Stringer established Little Warriors Educare in a space that was previously a vandalised drug house. The centre has become a safe and nurturing learning environment for children in the community.
Over the past three years, she has received support from AJF. “We’ve received ‘starter packs’ filled with scissors, art materials, modelling clay and other creative tools which have given children the chance to explore, build and express themselves,” she said.
“These boxes of supplies may seem small, but they’re filled with possibility. They’ve helped us build a strong foundation for learning.”
The Little Warriors Playgroup children are sitting with the donated hampers including food supplies and blankets.
Image: supplied
Beyond the classroom, AJF has provided additional support in the form of blankets, hand-knit beanies, and basic food items. This year, soup mixes were also donated.
AJF founder Anwar Jakoet, a former teacher, said: “Our ECD team brings over 100 years of combined experience. It includes two retired primary school principals, a former vice principal, a retired College of Cape Town lecturer, and a former primary school teacher.”
The foundation, based in Upper Woodstock, was established in 2019 during the covid-19 pandemic. It originated from a mask distribution initiative funded by the family trust of the late Dr Anwah Nagia through the KAAF Trust.
The effort expanded to include non-alcohol-based hand sanitiser and later soup kitchens, with support from Mr Jakoet’s Harold Cressy High School alumni group, the Class of 1979, who donate food supplies to community kitchens.
AJF’s approach includes teacher training, sustainable initiatives such as vegetable gardening and herb box distribution, and organising community events featuring DJs, MCs, motivational speakers, and life coaches.
At Small Adventures Preschool, principal Whitney Franke said the support from AJF had made a significant impact- a group of men who introduced themselves not just with supplies, “but with heart". “The AJF was introduced to us by other preschools during our Sports Day in March,” she said.
“They showed up, hands-on, and eager to be involved – and they’ve been such a help ever since.”
Ms Franke described the AJF members as “grandpa figures” to the children. “I’d like to say this clearly: the passion they have for children shines through. It’s rare to see a group of men so involved, especially in something like early childhood education.”
The AJF currently supports 108 ECDs throughout the broader western cape, up to Swellendam on N2, Touws River on N1 and Veldriff on west coast and Saron Inland as well as over 200 soup kitchens and feeding schemes across the country. It also partners with bulk food suppliers, sports companies, and more than 150 NPOs, extending its outreach to areas such as Klapmuts, Paarl, Franschhoek, Mitchell’s Plain, Heideveld, and Khayelitsha. It also supports old-age homes, orphanages, and religious organisations.
For more information or to support the foundation, call 083 462 7992 or email anwar@chicfusion.co.za.
For more information or to support the foundation, call 083 462 7992 or email anwar@chicfusion.co.za