Crèches develop a zest for life and love of learning

KOMATIPOORT – The Life! Projects were established in 2013 by Lorinda Holder when she was looking for an opportunity to become involved in community development among the underprivileged.

At the same time she was approached by Lourens Agri to get crèches off the ground and manage them. There were four on the four farms, namely Welgelegen, Schoonspruit, Dit Maak Saak and Turfbult, and each had two caretakers.

“When I visited the crèches at first, the children were just sitting around with nothing to do or play with and the caretakers were only cleaning the children and seeing to it that they stayed inside the boundaries of the premises.

“I then showed them that the children can be stimulated and kept busy with basic things like leaves, rocks, sticks and mud which are freely available and don’t cost anything.

“Soon after all the necessary tables, chairs, stationary, stoves and food were sponsored by Agri and the workshop manager Mr Hannes Ferreira assisted us in making and erecting the outdoor equipment.

We realised the importance of a daily programme in order to create routine and structure for the toddlers, set up class rules and then decided on different themes for every month.

There were basic skills that the children had to develop and I visited different preschools and incorporated different ideas and programmes in order to meet the outcomes that were required for any toddler,” Holder recalls.

The caretakers have been trained in the meantime and have to attend a monthly workshop where the new theme for the month is discussed. They try to incorporate as many skills into each project as possible.

There is also the necessity of making use of various materials and mediums to create the toddlers’ artwork. Fantasy play and gross-motor outdoor activities are encouraged. The group of children going to school the following year do grade R work.

“In 2015 Life! Projects expanded by starting up the crèche of Oraculim Investments, Tfube Linhle. It’s the fastest growing so far. In total there are 78 children attending the various crèches on the farms that are run by Life! Projects. Graduation at each of these took place on December 9 and 11 and 18 children received certificates, and will start big school in different schools in Naas and Komatipoort.

“It was a life-enriching experiencing attending this big moment with both teachers and the kids, who proudly and with so much passion, demonstrated to the farmers what they have learned. One was touched by the creativity of these kids, making something beautiful out of absolutely nothing,” says Holder.

Every boy that graduated received a handmade wooden car, and every girl received a doll made from material by Martie Cronjè.

The children were also treated with vetkoek and mince, cakes, cold drinks and ice cream after all the formalities had concluded.