Shelly Centre’s ‘We Care You Care’ project will make a difference in many lives #buyabag
Shelly Centre's 'We Care You Care' project will see beautifully painted fabric shopping bags sold for a minimum donation of R100 at the centre's pop-up shop until October 28.
Matilda Ngcobo what she does best - teach children.
DIAMONDS FROM COALS OF POVERTY
Ten primary schools have gotten involved in this project, as well as various other people in the community, many of them pensioners. All funds raised by the community will be collected to purchase a classroom for Zenzeleni Crèche in Izingolweni. Zenzeleni is one of the Network Action Group’s early childhood development centres. NAG put Zenzeleni Crèche in touch with Breadline Africa and Shelly Centre, and this is how the dots were connected to make the circle bigger. Matilda Ngcobo, who heads up the Zenzeleni Crèche, is the real heroine of this story.
Concerned by the poverty and lack of education in the area, she joined NAG in order to gain the skills needed to teach the children, and to officially register the school.
Matilda Ngcobo proud of her Mayoral Community Award.
It was not easy and there were times when she smuggled food out of her own home (without her husband knowing!) to feed the schoolchildren in need.
On another occasion a local chief sent sugar cane and lemons.
However, one of the mindsets she had to change was that the centre was perceived as merely an orphanage and not a place of learning.
Her story is testament to her courage, faith, vision and determination.
Zenzeleni Crèche adds to the community by giving children a safe place to learn and receive a meal while the parents go out and earn a living, – Matilda Ngcobo
Government funding eventually came and she was able to employ local women as teachers and send them for training.
She has succeeded against some formidable odds and was recently honoured by Ray Nkonyeni Municipality for having the ‘Best Early Childhood Development Centre for 2018’.
But the challenges keep coming and if anything her work is more vital now than it has ever been, to continue making diamonds out of the coals of poverty.
That’s why she needs to expand – the numbers have increased and she needs more classroom space.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE
Breadline Africa believes that every child has the capacity to do something phenomenal with his or her life. When imaginations are unlocked, possibilities are opened up, offering new opportunities for the future.
The organisation helps to make these opportunities a reality by providing initiatives and infrastructure to support childhood development in Southern Africa.
Its refurbished containers and prefabricated units are used as classrooms, kitchens and toilet facilities in early childhood development centres and as libraries in primary schools.
With Breadline Africa’s vision, track record and expertise in building early childhood development infrastructure, Shelly Centre could not imagine a better partner to assist both the mall and our community in our project to build a classroom for Zenzelini Crèche in Izingolweni. – Kirstin Rowbotham, Shelly Centre Marketing Manager
Kirstin Rowbotham, Shelly Centre marketing manager.
YOU CAN HELP BY PURCHASING A BAG
Despite all of Matilda’s great work she operates from an old building that has toilet facilities in need of an upgrade, only one large classroom, and a small ‘babies room’, all for 100 children!
The calico bags that will be on sale for R100.
Investing in a container classroom will allow the teachers at Zenzeleni Crèche to separate the age groups into more age-appropriate learning environments.
Beautifully painted bags done by the children of Cornerstone Learning Centre.
Shona Aylward is a vastly experienced journalist working as a senior reporter. Aside from her extensive community involvement and story writing, she is also involved in creative page layout, and the various media platforms. Shona began her career with Caxton at the Southlands Sun. Previous to this she worked in the marketing industry for surf magazines. Shona is a renown 'greenie' and champions environmental causes. She is also Mom to a number of dogs and cats, and the occasional uninvited snake. When she can find some spare time, it's usually to the beach that she heads.
The organisation helps to make these opportunities a reality by providing initiatives and infrastructure to support childhood development in Southern Africa.
