Educating the young

Objectives

· To encourage the educational development of underpriviledged children.
· To offer children a safe enviroment while their parents are at work.
· To assist the wider community by offering an educational facility.

The Beginnings

In March 1998 a delegation of farm labourers' wives from the vicinity approached Kenosis with the plea to establish a Pre-school. Kenosis lies in Bishopstowe, a farming community, and there is no schooling facility available for pre school-going children. Many of these children are therfore left to their own devices while their parents go to work on the farms during the day. Kenosis gave this request some serious thought and, after the necessary preparations had been done and 'AIDS and Child, Swiss Foundation for Direct Assistance to Children Affected by AIDS' offered finance, the building of the 'Kenosis Early Childhood Development Centre' started in 2001. A group of friends of the 'Christusbruderschaft, Selbitz' came to Kenosis to do the actual building and within six weeks the building was finished. In September that year the Bishopstowe Early Childhood Development Centre was opened and the first children were registered. At present we have 50 registered children who attend the Creche daily.

The Creche is headed by Rhoda Zuke and her assistant Sr Lindeni Mavundla. Both teachers are training with TREE, a Pietermaritzburg based organisation that offers training for Creche teachers. They are assisted by 2 of our German volunteers.

Where do the children come from?
The children come from three main areas: First and foremostly, Kenosis offers space to children of farm labourers in the area, as the need for them seems the greatest and it was their initiative that led to the establishment of the school. A number of children come from an infomal settlement, Thamboville, about 5 kilomenters away from Kenosis, an area where the hard realities of poverty, unemployment and AIDS are very evident. Lastly, a number of children come from Glenwood, a township/suburb of Pietermaritzburg.

The creche facility is also available to the children from our foster homes and the children of staff working at Kenosis.

How old must the children be?
The Creche offers schooling to children between the ages of 3 and 6 years.

How do they get to Kenosis?
As Kenosis does not lie on a main transport route, it offers transport for the children. Themba Sithole, the driver at Kenosis, collects the children with the 'Kenosis Kombi' in the mornings and takes them home again in the afternoon.

What facilities does the creche offer?
The Creche has space for 50 children. The room is subdivided in such a away that the children can be divided into 2 groups separating those who are in Grade R (Reception class for school) and the others. A playground offers enough space for children to play and a large veranda makes outside play possible when it rains. Adequate ablution facilities are available. Various individuals and organisations have donated educational toys and books to the creche, so that the children can be stimulated and educated to foster a holisitc development.

What does it cost to attend the creche?
The basic cost is R50 per month tuition fees and R30 for transport. The creche has a bursary fund to assist families who are unable to pay this amount. The income generated through payment from parents does not cover the cost of running the creche. It is therefore subsidised by funding received from various donors.