At Alvi’s Drift, the wellbeing of our people and our greater community is close to our hearts. Supporting our employees and their families in a tangible manner is our first priority, and we are always exploring new ways to assist and empower our valued workforce.
Now, two of our country’s most important but threatened sectors come together through our partnership with the Indaba Foundation for Early Childhood Development, in a collaboration that aims for real, lasting social transformation.
"I am so excited about our partnership with the Indaba Foundation and the incredible work they are doing. When you think about Early Childhood Development and the goals of the Indaba Foundation, giving every child the same opportunity to reach their full potential within the first five years of life is truly remarkable." – Alvi van der Merwe
In the heart of South Africa, a quiet crisis has been brewing for generations. It’s not about grand reforms or high-profile scandals but something much more personal and far-reaching: the lives and futures of millions of our country’s young children.
SA’s Children: A Generation at Risk
There are 8 million children under six years old in South Africa, a critical age group for brain development. The foundation laid in these early years profoundly impacts every aspect of a person's life – cognitive, emotional, and physical. Yet, many of our country’s children are exposed to toxic stress, which disrupts this crucial development, putting them on a path filled with lifelong challenges.
Toxic stress in early childhood can derail the development of essential brain architecture and other organ systems, leading to heightened vulnerability to stress-related diseases, as well as cognitive impairments. The ripple effect is felt throughout life, diminishing individual potential and putting strain on societal resources.
It’s a collective tragedy that compromises the socio-economic fabric of our nation.
The Glaring Disparity Between the Privileged & Disadvantaged
Despite the overwhelming evidence of the importance of Early Childhood Development (ECD), access remains shockingly unequal.
Approximately 25% of SA’s children under six attend ECD programmes regularly, meaning only 11% of children start school with the foundational skills they need. This gap is even more pronounced between wealthier and poorer communities, with only 30% of children from disadvantaged households starting school on track compared to 80% from more affluent families.
This disparity is not just a statistic – it has real, devastating consequences. In the poorest 80% of schools, learners fall roughly 2.5 years behind the curriculum by Grade 3, and by Grade 12, 50% of learners have dropped out.
The conclusion? Our country’s current system is failing these children, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and inequality.
SA’s Children – A Neglected Investment
At Alvi’s Drift, we’ve always believed that education is the most powerful tool for social change. However, the South African government’s spending priorities starkly highlight the neglect of early childhood education.
While R385 per day is allocated to every prisoner, a mere R17 is spent on each child in ECD. This amounts to less than 1% of the national education budget. This discrepancy is not just a number; it represents a fundamental misalignment of values and priorities.
In many childcare facilities, circumstances are often dire. Overworked teachers and caregivers may be responsible for up to 50 children under the age of five, creating chaotic environments where education is secondary to basic supervision.
Such settings contribute to a cycle of trauma and inequality, further entrenching the socio-economic divide.
Why Early Childhood Development Makes Economic Sense
The financial argument for investing in ECD is undeniable. Nobel laureate James Heckman’s research confirms that investing in quality early childhood education yields the highest returns.
His studies show that every dollar invested in high-quality ECD can result in up to $13 in economic benefits due to improved future earnings, better health outcomes, and reduced social costs.
Globally, studies confirm that well-structured ECD programmes can reduce deficits, boost economic success, and promote social growth. The return on investment is not just economic but deeply human, shaping lives and communities in ways that extend far beyond the classroom.
A Foundation for Success Through Early Childhood Development
At Alvi’s Drift, we understand the profound impact Early Childhood Development (ECD) has on a child’s future. In the first six years of life, a child’s brain forms connections at an incredible rate, laying the foundation for their cognitive, emotional, and physical development.
When nurtured in a supportive and enriching environment, children are naturally drawn toward positive growth, allowing them to flourish in every aspect of life. This belief in the power of early development is what drives our commitment to creating opportunities for our employees’ young children, ensuring they have the foundation needed to thrive.
Alvi’s Drift: Committed to Impacting the Future of Our Country
So, what does this have to do with our wine farm?
For 75 years, we’ve nurtured our employees and their families. Back in 1949, as Nelson Mandela was formulating a mass-based policy to fight apartheid, Ouma Emmarentia, wife of our founder Albertus Viljoen “Oupa Alvi” van der Merwe, quietly defied the ruling party by starting literacy lessons for farm workers on her farmhouse stoep.
Today, as Alvi’s Drift, we provide more than 500 workers and their families with a school, crèche, and community centre, among other initiatives. However, despite the employer’s long-standing commitment, socio-economic challenges within this close-knit worker community have not changed as much as the winery had hoped, with social challenges often still reflecting those seen on a national level.
After years of reflection, we are now increasing our efforts, recognising that real change requires more than goodwill and investment in traditional socio-economic programmes – it demands a fundamental shift in approach and a strategic, sustained commitment to ECD.
This is why our third-generation wine farm is pioneering a transformative approach by partnering with the Indaba Foundation for Early Childhood Development. This collaboration is not just about funding, but about embedding ECD into the very fabric of our employee community.
Our partnership aims to enhance local education through training teachers, improving school infrastructure, and ensuring that every child at Alvi’s Drift receives the support they need to thrive.
Two Alvi’s Drift Teachers To Start Indaba Foundation CoRE Training in Early 2025
Beginning in early 2025, two of our Alvi’s Drift teachers will start their training on Indaba Foundation’s CoRE (Community Rooted Education) programme in the nearby town of Paarl.
With the CoRE programme’s emphasis on empowering women, we believe children from our farm’s worker community will benefit from this training, to be better equipped for life ahead.
We cannot wait to see the positive influence this programme will have on our farm’s school, the teachers, and most importantly, the children.
The Indaba Foundation’s Revolutionary Approach
The Indaba Foundation’s Community-Rooted Education (CoRE) programme trains women in their own communities, empowering them to become effective ECD practitioners.
This powerful, bottom-up approach leverages local knowledge and resources, ensuring that education is culturally sensitive and contextually relevant. The goal is to create a sustainable, long-term impact by transforming not just individual lives but entire communities.
The Indaba Foundation is not just another training organisation. It stands as a beacon of change, funding the teacher training centre in the Cape Winelands accredited by the prestigious Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Montessori is a scientifically- based approach to education that emphasises independence, freedom (within limits), and respect for each child’s natural development.
In a Montessori classroom, children learn through hands-on exploration and discovery. They’re encouraged to follow their curiosity, which turns learning into a joyful, lifelong pursuit. This method not only helps children gain academic skills but also teaches them to regulate their emotions, solve problems, and interact positively with others.
It’s a holistic approach that we believe will have a lasting impact on our community.
The Indaba Foundation’s Montessori-based ECD teacher training focuses on children aged 0-6, with graduates becoming the architects of a thriving educational ecosystem that can transform entire communities.
“Alvi’s Drift’s partnership with the Indaba Foundation is more than just an educational programme; it’s a transformative project aimed at changing lives within a single generation,” says Richard Bradfield, Alvi’s Drift Sales and Marketing Manager. “After reviewing several global systems, we realised that none provided true accountability or allowed us to track tangible change. By partnering with the Indaba Foundation, we will have the ability to measure and monitor the impact of our efforts. We’re incredibly excited about this project’s potential and can’t wait to see the positive impact it will have.”
A Vision to Change the Trajectory of Human Society in One Generation
We’re not just collaborating with Indaba Foundation because of their impressive track record. We’re embarking on this journey because we believe in and support their vision: to change the trajectory of human society in a single generation.
By training our teachers through Indaba Foundation’s CoRE programme, we’re equipping them to become powerful agents of change. Drawing on their training, these teachers will transform their schools into ECD centres, and in doing so, eventually transform our entire community.
Why? Because educational empowerment leads to economic empowerment, and from there, the ripple effect creates an ever-growing wave of positive change and transformation.
We share the Indaba Foundation’s commitment to giving every child a fair start in life, no matter their circumstances. And we’re excited to see how this partnership will benefit the children from our Alvi’s Drift community.
Indaba Foundation: 2023 & 2024 Successes In Numbers
These statistics reflect the growing impact of Indaba Foundation’s efforts, highlighting its commitment to improving Early Childhood Development and uplifting and empowering entire communities through education.
“Our Community-Rooted Education (CoRE) programme is a revolutionary seven-month programme designed to empower women within their own communities. This is not charity, it’s a radical intervention. By training women to become Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers, we’re doing more than imparting knowledge – we’re equipping them to liberate, uplift, and inspire the next generation.” - André Shearer, Founder, Indaba Foundation
Empowering Women, Transforming Lives
Our partnership with Indaba Foundation is about much more than just education. It’s about changing lives. By investing in Early Childhood Development, we’re not only giving these children the tools they need to succeed – we’re helping to build a future where they can thrive.
The positive outcomes are already evident in the communities where the Indaba Foundation has been active. These include reduced drug addiction, lower rates of abuse, and stronger family bonds. And here at Alvi’s Drift, we’ll be measuring the same impacts within our own community.
We’re particularly excited about the possibilities offered by the closed nature of our farm’s worker community. This unique setup will enable us to closely monitor the progress of the children and their families, and to measure the impact of the CoRE programme.
“For every bottle of our Albertus Viljoen range wines purchased, a percentage of the proceeds will go towards the Indaba Foundation. This partnership isn't just about funding, it’s about aligning with a vision that transforms lives.”
- Alvi van der Merwe
How You Can Help Us Support The Indaba Foundation
Partnering with the Indaba Foundation, we’re addressing the root causes of the challenges in our community – and in doing so, hoping to set an example for others to follow.
To further support the Indaba Foundation’s groundbreaking work, we’re committing a percentage of the sale from every bottle of our much-awarded, internationally acclaimed Albertus Viljoen Icon Range wines to be donated to the Indaba Foundation.
“For every bottle of our Albertus Viljoen range wines purchased, a percentage of the proceeds will go towards the Indaba Foundation,” says Alvi. “Look for the Indaba Foundation mark on our Albertus Viljoen bottles – it’s a symbol of our commitment to a brighter future for our country’s children.”
“Investing in early childhood development is not merely a moral imperative but an economic necessity. It is a commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty and inequality and fostering a more equitable society. Our partnership with the Indaba Foundation represents a critical step toward addressing this crisis.” - Alvi van der Merwe
Join The Cause: A Call To Get Involved
Our commitment to Early Childhood Development extends beyond our own operations, and our third-generation wine farm is calling on other wineries and industries to join us in this critical mission.
By integrating ECD initiatives into our business practices and community support programmes, our goal is to inspire a broader movement toward lasting, societal change.
We invite you to join us in supporting the Indaba Foundation and take action towards a brighter future for the children of South Africa.
A toast to making a difference!
