From rural Ndwedwe to Santa’s lap at Ballito Junction

It was a day of adventures and surprises for a group of tiny tots who ventured from deep in rural Ndwedwe to Santa’s lap at the Ballito Junction last week.

The children have a special place in the Junction team’s heart who, together with Build the Future, recently built the new Vukuzakhe Crèche.

The little ones went from being taught on the floor of a tiny mud hut to having a beautiful classroom with toilets and water tanks, as well as playground equipment enclosed by a fence and lock up gates.

With the vision to create a much-needed safe, early childhood development and learning centre in Ndwedwe, Ballito Junction’s co-owners, the investment consortium of Menlyn Maine Investment Holdings and Flanagan & Gerard Property Development & Investment, had put aside funds and are committed to being a long-term force for good within the community.

By making a positive impact in the lives of the youngest community members, Ballito Junction CEO Geraldine Jorgensen said they hope to secure a better and brighter future for the people of the region.

“Early childhood learning centres not only provide a crucial foundation for later education, they are also spaces where little ones can create, play, laugh, explore, and make friends – all vital ingredients in the development of happy, well-rounded individuals,” said Jorgensen.

She said it was important for them to support and collaborate with local businesses as much as possible in this project.

Already they have achieved a lot with their partners WBHO, MDS Architecture, Smith & Winfield, Vision Elevators and community-based family businesses like Super Construction and Bhambhayi Hardware to ensure maximum benefit to the local economy and meaningful skills development.

Shoppers are called to action with the opportunity to support this community-changing initiative by donating educational toys, play mats, crayons, paper and colouring in books for the Vukuzakhe Crèche at any of the We Care boxes on level four and level six of the mall.

“We are grateful to have the opportunity to be involved in this initiative which puts positive, sustainable and long-lasting benefits for the people of our community at its heart. With the generous assistance of our partners, local businesses and shoppers we are confident we can do even more to help those who need it most,” said Jorgensen.

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