Preschool opens at Village Safe Haven

VILLAGE Safe Haven has opened a preschool on their premises in Buccleuch.

The space acts as a cluster foster care facility for orphans and vulnerable children who live on the property and attend preschool during the day.

Established in 2003 and rebuilt this year with help from individual sponsors, corporate funding and fundraising activities, Village Safe Haven houses 28 children aged from three months old to 16-year-olds.

There are currently seven preschool children attending daily classes that meet GDE requirements. Olivia Israil who heads up the classes, has been teaching for 10 years and is looking for five to six children from outside the Haven to join her classes.

The fees will contribute to material, salaries and individual attention for three- to six-year-olds, and the school will be able to run without sponsors and funding.

Most of the live-in children have been abused, abandoned or orphaned and have come to the property for a minimum of three months so their parents can also settle their court cases or get help with mental diseases or addiction. The children are housed together as a unit, supporting each other with the help of their house mother, teacher and principal parent.

Principal house parent Susan Harris runs the project and oversees the staff’s responsibility and interaction with the children.

“I think Village Safe Haven is doing well and has grown as expected. We hope to see more children here, there is such a need,” said Harris.

“There has been a huge success with most of them. Our forte is getting them through school, valuing christian principles, and getting them on their own feet.”

Village Safe Haven is located on Joanne Close in Buccleuch and offers preschool children classes from 7.30am to 1pm daily.

Details: Olivia Israil 076-561-7874 or OIsrail@gmail.com