PROGRESS REPORT DECEMBER 2009
Three years ago, the Masikhulisane Creche, was a grassroots crèche in the community of Samora Machel, and in 2009 the Creche made great strides in becoming registered as a formal Educare Centre recognised by Social Development.
Our involvement, as ARC, has not only been to raise funds, but serve in a facilitation role to ensure a process from relief and dependence, through development to self-sustainability for Mirriam, who owns the Creche. We realise this is ultimately the best investment for the little beneficieries.
Over the years we have recognised the importance of identifying children at risk and how early intervention and quality provisioning could make it possible for children to grow and develop to their full potential. In addition, offering a quality service can free parents and other adult carers to take up opportunities for education and employment which can dramatically improve the socio-economic status of impoverished families.
Thanks to the hundreds of donors who supported the Charity Challenge, we have been able to continue to support the Creche with running costs and meet their needs. Working with Mirriam through her list of needs, June month saw heavy rainfalls in the Cape and builders worked around the weather (and when the children were not at the Crèche) to install 3 new ceilings and repair the leaky roof, providing a dry environment in the back rooms for the little ones and kitchen.
Other maintenance work done during the year was vinyl flooring laid throughout the house, the bathroom walls plastered, a bathroom ceiling installed, broken toilet bowl and 2 new plastic cisterns replaced that were safe for the kids, and the leaks were fixed. 60 new chairs and 30 tables purchased for the kiddies. November saw the installation of a brand new stove and during the December holidays two classrooms and the kitchen got a fresh coat of paint, ready for 2010 intake.
Great progress continued in the equipping of educators and each week they took time out for upskilling at the College of Cape Town, bringing their new skills and knowledge back into the creche.
In 2009 the Creche enrolled 8 orphans who were cared for by extended family in the community as well as HIV positive children. Part of the holistic approach is to provide food parcels to the families that are struggling and Mirriam paid house calls as needed. In addition we were able to continue to support a gogo with bags and rice and beans, who in turn 'supports' 21 children on her pension.
Over the past 2 years the Creche has grown in many ways. On a physical level donors contributed toward extending the building to make more room for the children, however with up to 90 children in 2009 in a small space, this made it difficult to provide opportunities for quality education, play and creativity.
In order to overcome this challenge, Mirriam took on the process of registering the Creche as an Educare Centre (ECD) with Social Development and by the end of this year it became accredited! This was a lengthy process with many steps! In July we purchased a fire extinguisher, which was one of the requirements by the Health Inspectors, who measured the building to accommodate a maximum of 38 children. Now that the creche is accredited and recognised as an ECD Centre, it is elegible for a government subsidy and ultimately on the road to becoming more self-sustainable.
We also linked Mirriam to the Centre of Early Childhood Development (CECD) who stepped in to assist her. In June CECD visited with Mirriam at the Creche and conducted an initial assessment which helped identify areas which needed support and improvement. Mirriam and her staff were invited to attend their on-going training sessions covering these structural aspects.
This has been an awesome year for the kiddies who learnt their ABC's, to count, to act and to dance. 30 Grade R's graduated! The year ended in a day of festivites with a Christmas Party organised by ARC with the help of Life Church. The children received party packs and beautiful toys generously donated by the Toy Run and the children put on wonderful dance show for us in appreciation. The staff were also treated to gifts and personalised cards showing appreciation for their long hours and dedication. In addition other members of the community also joined in on the party and we were able to give them beautiful hand made quilts provided to us via Life Church from friends in the USA.
Once again we thank the athletes and sponsors so very much for their invaluable contribution to the lives of these children.
