Mario Claasen: Champion of Young Children and Early Childhood Development in Rustenburg

For more than two decades, Mario Claasen has been a steady advocate for children’s rights in South Africa, working at the intersection of education, health and public funding to ensure that young children are given the best possible start in life. In 2022, he brought this lifelong commitment to the Early Care Foundation (ECF), where he now serves as Head of Programmes.

ECF is a long-standing non-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening early learning and development for children from birth to five years. When the organisation first began more than 25 years ago, very little was known about how many young children were accessing early learning programmes (ELPs) or early childhood development (ECD) centres. Today, thanks to a growing national network of ECD partners, practitioners, and champions like Mario, access to early learning has expanded significantly, especially in under-resourced communities.

In Rustenburg, Mario works closely with the Do More Foundation (DMF) to support ECD centres and programmes in Kroondaal, Dinie Estate, Karien Park, Zinniaville and Seraleng. Their partnership focuses not only on access, but on quality to ensure that children are learning, growing and thriving in safe, nurturing environments.

“We work in partnership with the Do More Foundation to address children’s access to early childhood development services through capacity building and training,” says Mario. “This includes working directly with ECD practitioners to strengthen ECD principles and improve the quality of care and learning for the children in their centres.”

One of the most significant initiatives in Rustenburg has been the Bana Pele Mass Registration Drive, implemented in partnership with the Department of Basic Education. Through this drive, 50 of the 82 ECD centres supported by ECF and DMF in Rustenburg are now officially registered, enabling them to access government support and operate more sustainably.

Beyond registration, ECF and DMF support a responsive basket of services tailored to the needs of Rustenburg communities. These include nutrition support, caregiver and parent programmes, early learning, infrastructure improvements, leadership and capacity building, and child protection.

Infrastructure remains a key challenge. Many ECD centres in Rustenburg are built from concrete blocks that become extremely hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter - conditions that are far from ideal for young children to learn and play in. To address this, ECF and DMF work alongside Department of Health Environmental Health Practitioners, who assess centres and provide guidance on improvements that can make them safer, healthier and more child-friendly spaces. Mario also places strong emphasis on community collaboration.

Through regular Young Child Forums, ECF and DMF bring together ECD principals, practitioners, government departments and community leaders to share knowledge, listen to challenges and co-create solutions.

As one of the few men working in the ECD sector, Mario is particularly passionate about encouraging more men to become caregivers and practitioners, not only leaders or administrators.

“Male practitioners and caregivers are becoming more visible,” he explains. “We’re seeing men attend parenting workshops and take on caregiving roles. They challenge the belief that men cannot care for young children.”

He acknowledges, however, that resistance still exists. Some ECD principals have had to engage parents directly to address concerns and shift long-held perceptions.

“We need more men and boys demonstrating positive, non-toxic models of masculinity, as fathers, caregivers and family members,” says Mario. “When men show up in these spaces, they help change mindsets and strengthen communities.”

Through his work in Rustenburg, Mario Claasen continues to play a vital role in shaping early childhood development systems that are inclusive, community-led and centred on the needs of young children. He is part of laying those foundations that will benefit families and his community for generations to come.