WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

Centre for Creative Education (CCE) is a fully registered teacher training institution. We are an independent, NPO (not for profit), NGO (non-governmental organisation) that offers a Waldorf-inspired teacher training environment. We are based in Plumstead in Cape Town, South Africa.

We seek to transform individuals and influence society by training teachers and performing artists both in South and East Africa. We emphasise artistic creativity as a central component of happy learning and good health.

The CCE offers a range of fully accredited teacher qualifications, but with a difference. Our teacher training combines Waldorf inspired teaching with the National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). This combination offers the development of creative and innovative teaching methods that will deeply engage children in their learning at any school.

The accredited courses we offer are:

• Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching for teaching children from Grade R – Grade 3.
• Bachelor of Arts (Dance) in Eurythmy (the art of movement) for teaching, performing, or guiding social processes.
• Certificates in Early Childhood Development (NQF Levels 4 and 5) for teaching at an educare/kindergarten/pre-school.

Currently we also offer the informal Birth to Three Short Course which is not accredited.

These qualifications are valid in all South African schools, whether state (public) schools, independent schools, or Waldorf Schools. Our qualifications are accepted at all Waldorf Schools internationally.

We also run a kindergarten and primary school at our Zenzeleni Campus in Cape Town’s Khayelitsha township and also support other preschools and centres involved in our teacher training and volunteer programmes.

Waldorf education was introduced to South Africa in 1959. The Waldorf method and practice of teaching places equal value on the integrity of individuals and how they relate to their peers.

Teachers incorporate creative expression across the learning disciplines, appropriate to the developmental stage of each child. Especially in the early grades children encounter “the power of story” – myth, legend, history, fairy tale as well as traditional African intsomi. This helps them internalise broad truths of what it means to be human in its noblest sense.

The Centre for Creative Education (CCE) was founded in January 1993 in response to the educational crisis that existed in our country at the time (immediately prior to South Africa gaining full democratic government, with all its challenges). From its inception CCE emphasised empowerment and healing in children growing up under difficult circumstances, especially children from disadvantaged communities.

The Kairos Eurythmy Training Programme began in 1998 and offered a diploma, which has since been upgraded to a Bachelor’s Degree. Since 1999, CCE has nurtured the Zenzeleni Campus of the Centre for Creative Education in Khayelitsha. Today the Zenzeleni Campus has about 280 children from kindergarten to Grade 7.

Realising the tremendous importance of Early Childhood Development, CCE embarked on training women in township communities – who care for and educate children in their ECD centres (educares/kindergartens/preschools) – in integrative and holistic approaches. The CCE’s ECD department currently has more than 100 women in training every year.

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HELEN STOTKO – Managing Director

Helen began her career as an Occupational Therapist and went on to study and practice marketing. This experience awakened her interest in social matters. Helen has worked at the Centre for Creative Education (CCE) since 1995. She took over the Managing Director role from Peter van Alphen who pioneered the organisation. and has the overall responsibility of the financial and legal structures at CCE. Helen says that her main aim is to ensure CCE has the finances and bursaries available to allow students from all socio-economic sectors to have the opportunity to study at CCE so that ultimately all the children in South Africa can have an experience of the excellent teachers trained at CCE.

ANTOINETTE ANTOINE

Antoinette does networking, resource mobilisation and development work for Centre for Creative Education (CCE) at both campuses and has worked for CCE since August 2009. Among the things that she has done for CCE include some teaching in the ECD dept and the Friends of Waldorf Education volunteer programmes. She is also currently part of the College group. Antoinette’s formal qualifications are a BA Honours in History and a Higher Diploma in Education obtained at the University of KZN, Durban. An avid learner, she has done courses in adult literacy, editing, fundraising, and most recently Emergency Pedagogy, and Bridging Polarities art process training. She is passionate about creating spaces where adults and children can engage well with each other in a caring, considerate way, learning and growing together. She loves that students are guided to bring the best of both CAPS and Waldorf pedagogy together so they are able to teach at any school in the country. Antoinette finds joy in leisurely cycling, and swimming in the sea.

Marlin Eckard

Marlin has been working for the Centre for Creative Education (CCE) since 2010. He has qualifications in Business Administration and is the Academic Administrative Assistant and Librarian. Marlin is a kind-hearted and spiritual person who lives according to biblical principles as much as he can. He loves the fact that he is part of the team that is forming and transforming people’s futures and the part that they have to offer to the world. His hope for the future of the CCE is that it continues to grow despite these trying times. He believes that sometimes the worst thing that can happen to you, can also bring out the best in you.

Natasha Saule

Alifa Halidi

Alifa is from Malawi and has been the caretaker since 2015. He takes pride in his work and helps wherever he can. He has recently also become a covid officer which he enjoys since he is able to engage with many people each day. He really feels part of the family that is CCE because he says that he is surrounded by good people who will always be there for him. Alifa is father to a beautiful energetic six year old son.

Vuyokazi Ndinisa

Vuyokazi has been working part-time for Centre for Creative Education (CCE) since mid 2020 in the housekeeping team. She started off as an ECD student when covid hit and she was able to continue her studies and find employement with the organisation. Vuyokazi says this she is lucky to be part of such an inspiring place. Vuyokazi is a friendly and easygoing person. She is also a single mother to a wonderful son.

Sydney Gum

Sydney has been working at Centre for Creative Education since 2018 as a driver but most recently also as Covid officer. He has always enjoyed his responsibilities of transporting the volunteers from Germany because he really enjoys interacting with people and finding out about how other people live in other countries. This has always been a highlight for him. Sydney is passionate about helping people whenever he can.

Willington Sminini

Before working at Centre for Creative Education (CCE) in 2013, Willington worked as a truck driver. When he started at CCE, he worked as a driver fetching German volunteers from Muizenberg at 6am each morning and taking them to the various educares in Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Delft and Mannenberg. He would do general errands and then fetch the foreign volunteers again each afternoon to take them home. Willington says that he loves working at CCE because there is a real respect for people within the organisation.

Matthew Khutshwa

Matthew has worked for Centre for Creative Education (CCE) since 2002 when he was employed as the driver for the first cohort of German volunteers. As the years have passed so has his role and he is currently involved in the facilities team. Matthew says that what stands out for him about CCE is the respect that people show for one another.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Feziwe Ntontela

Nedbank Sales Consultant

Gavin Wilensky

Business Owner & Entrepreneur

Helen Stotko

Managing Director of Centre for Creative Education

Liz Smith

Organisational Development Consultant & Social Eurythmist – Quella

Mdebuka Mthwazi

Executive Director of Sikhula Sonke ECD

Nobuhle Mbatani

Senior Teacher at Centre for Creative Education – Zenzeleni Campus

Peter van Alphen

Chairperson, Founder, Pedagogical Leader and Senior Lecturer at Centre for Creative Education

Rubert van Blerk

Organisational Development Consultant

Silke Sponheuer

Head of Eurythmy Department at Centre for Creative Education

William Bester

Administrator of Michael Mount Waldorf School