Lions Club continues to support education

MBOMBELA – With the continued help of Nelspruit Lions Club, 40 children can now heave a sigh of relief and enjoy a conducive learning environment.

Lions Club, with the help of various other donors, recently built a brand-new brick structure at Sinethemba Educare Centre to provide extra classroom space.

This centre was started by Betty Moeng Thobela who saw a need in her community of Dayzenze to provide quality child care and to enable young mothers to continue with their education.

It is situated near the Numbi Gate entrance to the Kruger National Park.

“Betty started in her home, looking after and feeding around 10 young children at a time, while doggedly pursuing various paths to enable the care centre to function with the approval of local government,” the Lions Club explained.

In 2012, the club reached out a helping hand and donated funds to purchase a Wendy house which was erected on land granted to her by the local chief.

A very basic ablution structure made from wood has also been erected by Betty’s husband, Rojeirio. According to the Lions Club he makes the bricks himself and does the work almost single-handedly over weekends.

In the meanwhile a constitution was drawn up, a board appointed and Betty was attending courses run by Penreach’s to equip her with the skills to provide for the educational needs of the children. The Sinethemba Educare Centre was also registered as a non-profit organisation.

However, the need which Betty had recognised continued to grow.

According to the Lions Club there are now 40 children between the ages of a few months up to four years enrolled at the centre.

If you would like to get involved and help Sinethemba Educare Centre make a difference in the lives of children from a severely impoverished community, you can contact the Nelspruit Lions Club on 083-349-6736.

Any early educational items, such as illustrated books and posters, are also welcome.