NCEDULUNTHU EDUCARE: MFULENI TOWNSHIP, SOUTH AFRICA
New principal with her new supplies!
Deliveries to pre-schools.
Pre-school books are included
New principal with her new supplies!
Tending to these students while barely able to cover the costs required to run the school, Mama Nozukile was in desperate need of assistance.
Working with our partner, Ikamva Labantu, a community forum selected Mama Nozukile as the recipient of our project in recognition of her dedication and commitment to her school
THE ORIGINAL NEED FOR THE PROJECT:
Prior to the implementation of our project in 2013, the Ncedulunthu Educare Pre-School consisted of a tiny shack which was added on to the back of the teacher's small home. With great dedication and commitment, Mama Nozukile and her two assistants spent their days caring for 80 young children under the school's sagging, leaking, tin roof. The children shared one washbasin, and waited up to an hour in line to use the single toilet.
2020-2021 COVID UPDATE: The South African Township where Ncedulunthu Pre-School is located has been devastated by the impact of COVID. Millions of South Africans have lost their jobs and violent crime has increased as the virus has spread. With a pre-pandemic unemployment rate of 30% the situation is disastrous.
Sadly the school principal, Mama Nozukile, died suddenly in 2021. Her daughter is now the principal and is working hard to fill the void.
Food assistance:For $6,300 Gary's Fund is providing basic food staples for all of the students at Masizakhe and Ncedulunthu for a total cost of about $60 per child per year. These staples include include 22 pounds each of rice, soya and maize meal which are delivered to the schools each month.
Our South African students are fed at least one main meal everyday at school. With the parents unable to find work due to COVID they cannot pay the small school fees which cover the children’s food, materials, and minimal wages for the teachers (who are impoverished themselves).
When the parents cannot pay, these schools and safe havens cannot affort to open their doors or food thus the children often miss meals. With this assistance we will, along with our partner there provide the boost they need.
Training and new resources: The training of the school's new principal and one teacher was completed in 2021. Our funding also provided new tile flooring, tables, chairs, desks and mattresses with warm fleece blankets for nap time. See photo below.
Condition of the school prior to our project.
Before our project the 60 children waited in long lines for the one latrine, outside with no shelter.
The ceiling was in very poor condition and leaked badly.
Condition of the school prior to our project.
PROJECT DETAILS - PHASE ONE:
In the Fall of 2013 Gary's Fund agreed to a proposal made by our partner organization in South Africa for the rehabilitation and construction of the Ncedulunthu Educare Pre-School.
Gary's Fund made a donation of $8,600 to cover the total cost of the construction phase of the rehabilitation project.
The project included:
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A sturdy, new, weatherproof roof, ceiling and gutter system
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A new, additional latrine
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Two new, additional wash basins
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New doors and exterior concrete foundations to provide a play space and safe waiting space for the latrines
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A new roof to provide a sheltered play area and waiting space for the latrines
PROJECT DETAILS - PHASE TWO:
In the Spring of 2014 Gary's Fund made a donation of $6,100 to provide funding for:
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A year of formal teacher training for Mama Nozukhile and an assistant so that they would be better able to work effectively with the children, assist in their development, and provide them with a productive learning environment.
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60 new mattresses and blankets
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Fire extinquishers
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A complete set of educational materials and toys
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Additional supplies
Dancing children in the completed classroom.
Happy children after the renovation was completed.
See the above photo gallery of relief efforts.
2019- AN UPDATE:
Gary's Fund provided just under $6,000 for teacher training for two teachers, the tiling of the two classroom floors, educational materials and toys, children's chairs and new mattresses. We are delighted to continue providing ongoing support to this wonderful school.
2017 - AN UPDATE:
Ncedulunthu Educare continues to thrive three years after Gary's Fund provided funding for an extensive rehabilitation, teacher training and complete set of educational materials. No longer waiting up to an hour outside in line to use the single toilet and no longer sharing just one washbasin, the dozens of tiny students and their teachers are now happy and safe at their school. As a direct result of our project, Ncedulunthu Educare has gained approval from the Department of Fire and Rescue Service, an important step towards becoming eligible for government subsidies. According to our partner in South Africa, Ikamva Labantu, "Mama Nozukhile continues to be a champion in her community, giving the children in her care all the loving care that they need. She is busy in her pre-school working directly with the children."
The roof and ceiling were replaced.
Construction of the outdoor space.
The project included new doors.
The roof and ceiling were replaced.
Photo galleries show the children and teachers of Ncedulunthu, construction photos and the happy results
ACHIEVING OUR GOALS:
In 2013, the goal of this project was to bring the pre-school up to and beyond the minimum standards required for it to be registered with a local government agency in order to become eligible to receive government subsidies.Today Ncedulunthu Educare exceeds the minimum standards required to register as a government school. The 80 children and their three teachers now spend their days in a dramatically improved, safe and hygenic learning environment which greatly increases their chances for educational success.
Mama Nozukile has been described by our partner as "one of the many unsung heroes of South Africa who work quietly on the ground to uplife their communities by giving the children a better start in life." According to our partner Ikamva Labantu, Mama Nozukile and her assistant "are both doing very well and we are seeing great improvements in the level of childcare and implementation of learning programmes in their classroom. Ncedulunthu surely is one of the model pre-schools in Mfuleni community. As you know, they have so little and are barely able to cover the running costs, so the extra boost with (the Early Childhood Development) resources (are) most valuable. Thank you for making this all happen!"
All photos provided by Ikamva Labantu and the Moser Family.