UNIZUL

The UNIZUL Science Centre in KwaZulu-Natal Province is situated in one of the most educationally disadvantaged areas in all of South Africa. Education in this area of South Africa is considered to be in critical condition, with "under-qualified educators, little or no equipment and many schools not even electrified or supplied with water." The region has also received very little outside assistance, since it is fairly distant from an urban center. KwaZulu-Natal consists of eight educational regions. The two educational regions closest to the UNIZUL Science Centre have been identified in many South African studies and surveys as the most disadvantaged in all of KwaZulu-Natal Province, as well as being amonst the most disadvantaged nationally. The South African Reconstruction and Development Programme reported that "Black education, in particular, suffered severe deficits in the areas of Science, Mathematics, Technology, Arts and Culture." In essence, the entire education system in the area is in crisis!

CESLA's Present Plans
In accordance with our Mission Statement, we will aid the educationally disenfranchised rural learners of KwaZulu-Natal through cooperation with the UNIZUL Science Centre. We have plans to double the size of the present science center. We will add exhibit and program areas in the Natural Sciences. We will install the first Children's science center in sub-Saharan Africa, using toys as exhibits, which will greatly enhance the potential for education by starting with the youngest of learners. At this "Children's center" we will train early childhood development monitors to aid in further childhood advocacy and health in the rural areas.
Since the area is one of the most severely affected by HIV/AIDS in all of Africa, we will further promote childhood advocacy with exhibits, programs and all methods of instruction and advocacy. We also propose to use the "Children's Center" as a focal point for vaccinations for the poor of the area.

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