Young children in the informal settlement of Donkerhoek, Jacobsdal now have a place they can call home – away from home. The National Development Agency (NDA) has funded the community with R436 080 to establish and provide day-care and edu-care services at Thembalethu Day Care Centre to 65 children in Donkerhoek – previously housed at the Gospel Church of all Nations premises. The funds were used to construct a centre with classrooms, sick bay, storeroom andkitchen facilities to ensure hygienic and healthy environment; office equipment and furniture; purchasing of edu-care material and installation of play gym equipment.
The NDA is also offering training on care giving and early childhood development, whist the management committee will undergo organisational development and governance training.
“We are happy with the contribution from the NDA, we operated under difficult environments before the crèche was built. The children and the community are excited about the initiative”, Crèche Matron Shirley Shuping said when asked about the impact made by the crèche in the Donkerhoek community.
The day care has been operational since 2008 and 30 children have since moved further up the school rank. The classes are organised by age and a reasonable teacher-child ratio is put in place to ensure development for all children through educational games and interaction training. Thembalethu Day Care, which employs three educators, is the only crèche in Donkerhoek and is managed by a five-member committee.The word thembalethu loosely translated means “our hope, our trust”.
The Department of Social Development is also assisting with funding for the feeding scheme, contributed towards the expansion of the crèche building, provision of edu-toys and offers a dedicated social worker who provides technical support and advice to the project.
“The development of ECD is key and critical on the NDA’s strategy. We as the NDA have invested R436 080 in Donkerhoek to ensure young children are developed at an early age in this underprivileged community. This crèche is a pilot in this area, the success of it will make a difference in the future of these children”, says Anthony Bouwer, Provincial Manager of NDA in the Free-State.
The project was launched on Friday, 9 March 2012 by the Mayor of the Xhariep District and NDA officials.
