Cotlands and Clinton Health Access Initiative celebrate the official handover of 200 LEGO® Play Boxes to Toy Libraries.
Cotlands, in partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and the LEGO Foundation, hosted the official handover of 200 LEGO® Play Boxes to Cotlands’ Toy Libraries, marking a significant step towards increasing access to play-based learning for young children. The event brought together key partners and beneficiaries [The Department of Basic Education, ECD centres, parents, and caregivers], all united by a shared commitment to empowering children through play.
The power of collaboration in early learning.
The handover event kicked off with Irene Chetty, Head of Business Development at Cotlands, acknowledging the crucial role that collaborative partnerships play in advancing early childhood development. “Today is a testament to the power of partnerships. By working together, we can make a greater impact in ensuring that more children have access to the educational resources they need to thrive.”
Cotlands Acting CEO, Nozizwe Dladla Qwabe, emphasised the importance of play as the essential building blocks in early childhood development. “Play is not just an activity—it is a critical part of how children learn and develop essential life skills. Through play, children enhance their cognitive, social, emotional, fine, and gross motor skills. Cotlands remains committed to our mission of increasing access to play-based early learning opportunities. The 200 LEGO Play Boxes we are receiving today will have a massive impact on the lives of our children, helping them build creativity, problem-solving abilities, and confidence.“
A much-needed intervention for early learning from the Clinton Health Access Initiative.
Representing CHAI, Azukile Nzuzo spoke about the grant received from the LEGO Foundation and the vital role that partnerships play in making early learning resources accessible. “Through this important collaboration with Cotlands, we have been able to provide a much-needed intervention—equipping Cotlands Toy Libraries with 200 LEGO Play Boxes. These play materials will help create engaging learning experiences for young children, giving them the opportunity to develop foundational skills for future success.”
Expanding access through Toy Libraries.
Speaking on behalf of the Department of Basic Education (DBE), Sindiswa Mhlongo highlighted the role of inclusive education and how toy libraries support ECD centres: “Toy libraries are a critical resource in expanding access to quality early learning. Through these libraries, we can reach more children, ensuring they have the tools they need to learn and grow. ECD centres across the country can benefit immensely from this initiative, and we encourage them to make use of Cotlands’ Toy Library services. Additionally, toy librarians have been trained on inclusive play, ensuring that all children—regardless of ability—have access to enriching learning experiences.”
To ensure we sustain the initiative for long-term impact.
Looking beyond the event, Mealang Van Heerden, Cotlands’ Acting COO, shared plans to maximise the impact of the LEGO Play Boxes across Cotlands’ national Toy Library network: “Today is just the beginning. We have a plan to distribute these amazing LEGO Play Boxes nationally. Cotlands operates a network of eight toy libraries, and through this network, we will distribute these LEGO bricks for learning to caregivers, parents, and ECD centres. We aim to reach 5,000 children, ensuring they have access to quality educational resources. To sustain this initiative, we will monitor the impact, identifying children who need additional support. The LEGO Play Boxes will be rotated to keep learning fresh and engaging, as LEGO is an incredible open-ended toy that fosters creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. It is crucial that children have access to high-quality learning tools that challenge and inspire them.”
Through the power of play and partnerships, each stakeholder brings unique strengths to this initiative:
- CHAI supports governments, partners, and the private sector to identify children with disabilities early in life and enable access to assistive technology and inclusive play environments alongside their peers, ensuring every child can thrive.
- The LEGO Foundation donated the LEGO DUPLO bricks for children 0-6 years old to support the CHAI and Cotlands partnership for advancing inclusive learning through play for children with disabilities alongside their peers in communities.
- Cotlands brings expertise in play-based learning,
and most importantly, children must continue to play, learn, and grow.
The event was also attended by ECD centre practitioners/owners, parents, and caregivers, all eager to introduce a new batch of educational toys into their learning spaces. Many expressed excitement at the opportunity to integrate structured, play-based learning into their ECD programmes. This handover marks a major milestone in bridging the early learning gap in South Africa. With these LEGO Play Boxes, Cotlands and its partners are ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to learn through play.