A building with purpose for the children of Ndwedwe

The Ballito Junction Regional Mall team ventured into the vast hills of Ndwedwe for the exciting soil turning ceremony of their community project last week.

Together with Build the Future, they will build The Vukuzakhe Creche – a much-needed early learning child centre, giving the children of this remote area a place to play, learn and grow.

Ballito Junction CEO, Geraldine Jorgensen proudly held the golden spray-painted spade and said they were investing in a better future for their community.

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“Building this structure will help provide the proper school foundation for children here and encourage more parents to send their children to the learning facility,” said Jorgensen.

“It is a platform to change lives and instill hope; thus it plays a key role in eliminating poverty and crime.”

Through projects such as this creche, Ballito Junction cements its commitment to its community and to being a source of long-term economic benefits for the people of the region.

This includes creating jobs, developing skills, and supporting those who are most vulnerable in its community.

Build the Future had two school projects in the Ndwedwe community, however, the second school – providing early learning to 17 children aged two to six – was closed in December last year when the owner of the hut in which it was housed returned to live there.

The community rallied together to build a mud hut, so that learning could start again in January this year.

With the goal to give the children a permanent place to get ready for the next phase of school Ballito Junction’s co-owners, the investment consortium of Menlyn Maine Investment Holdings and Flanagan & Gerard Property Development & Investment made funds available for the construction of the preschool.

The plans for the centre have been reviewed and approved by the town planner of Ndwedwe Municipality.

In addition, Inkosi F Luthuli and the Ingonyama Trust Board have given permission for a creche and preschool to be constructed on a suitable site.

The plans for the early learning centre have been drawn by ckb.mds Architecture. Vision Elevators are also contributing towards the project and WBHO will assist with a donation of some construction material, while Smith & Winfield will provide paint.

In the spirit of supporting local, Ndwedwe residents will assist with labour to support skills transfer along with Baboo Harricharan of Super Construction based in Shakaskraal. Even the building material will be bought from a nearby 150-year-old family business, Bhambhayi Hardware.

“We welcome the involvement of anyone who wants to make a contribution to the project.

“Whatever you can do, be it giving a donation or sharing an act of kindness, everything is welcome. The more we work together, the more we can achieve,” encouraged Jorgensen.

“The building paves the way forward for other sustainable projects like vegetable gardens and fruit trees for food and to create a place of community volunteerism.”

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