ILUSANA Childcare Center in KwaNgcolosi is the fourth creche in the Upper Highway that will get a revamp with the help of the Heart in Hands (HiH) NPO.

The creche was started by Sthandiwe Mdlalose, a dynamic person who is filled with drive and passion for her community. Speaking at a fundraising event at Talloula in Botha’s Hill, the 28-year-old said the opening of iLusana was more of a calling than it was an idea.

“I have always wanted to be of help in my community, especially to the youth, but I just did not know how or where to start, but the eagerness of helping never left my heart even after I finished my matric,” she said.

After working as an assistant teacher for almost two years at the local primary school, Isihlangusabasha, Mdlalose said she realised that being around children made her very happy.

Also read: #WomensMonth: Upper Highway’s Tracy owns her own power

“The children also seemed to be very comfortable around me.”

Mdlalose said she has a certificate in childcare and youth development. The go-getter also studied business management and entrepreneurship as she aspires to be a businesswoman and make the crèche flourish with the skills she learnt from the management course.

Mdlalose thanked the people who believed in her when she started the crèche, and expressed gratitude to HiH, sponsors and everyone that has supported the HiH fundraiser.

HiH was started by Upper Highway resident Tracy Klokie five years ago during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Klokie has always had a heart for social upliftment and supported other charities for many years before registering HiH. They started off initially focusing on food relief, as that was the biggest source of vulnerability during that period of uncertainty.

Klokie said that to date, they’ve distributed more than 300 tons of food, bread, and fresh produce from local farmers, and toiletries into the local communities.

“We offered support to crèches, children’s homes, frail care units, and the elderly in our ‘backyard’ in Embo.”

While the need continues to be great, Klokie said her mindset has always been to ‘start where we are, with what we have’.

“We cannot make an impact everywhere, but we can focus on our small corner of the world, and the communities on our doorstep.”

The NPO has diversified away from food relief, and is focusing on more sustainable projects where they leave a legacy for many years to come.

Also read: Embo crèche gets refurbishment

“Children and early childhood development has always been something close to mine and Kim Griffith-Jones’ hearts.”

To date, the NPO has refurbished a soup kitchen, a children’s home and three local crèches in Embo.
ILusana crèche will be the fourth one that the NPO will refurbish.

“To our friends, associates, donors and community partners who journey alongside us to make this happen, thank you doesn’t seem enough for the invaluable contribution that you make; in particular most currently to our event partners for this fundraising event, Just Property Upper Highway, Makhotse Narasimulu & Associates, Netconfig, Functions for Africa and Talloula. We see you, we appreciate you all and we hope to partner with you long into the future,” said a grateful Klokie.

For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter here