Nearly 30 years ago, Terri Heatlie closed the doors of her independent preschool to follow the vision of Kids Haven founder Moira Simpson, which is to offer a place of care and safety for vulnerable inner-city children.
Terri, who is the assistant director specialising in education, wears many hats within the organisation. She also serves as principal of the Kids Haven Créche, ECD educator, and educational coordinator which includes the newly opened Teen Hub.
Her journey with Moira and, ultimately Kids Haven, started while teaching her own class of tots at the Child Welfare Hall.
“I saw how a group of children were washing themselves outside in a tub of water. It was a miserable day and I was horrified,” she said.
“I went outside to enquire what was going on and that is where I met Moira. Her ideas and visions resonated with me and I soon volunteered my time.
“We started by feeding the inner-city kids and handing out clothes and blankets but we knew more needed to be done. We needed a facility to take care of these kids and to connect with their families.”
Terri recalls how she reached out to a young boy begging outside a local shop near her home, ensuring that she gave him regular meals and supplied him with clothes.
“This boy, like so many, needed a mom to step up and care for him,” Terri said.
“I couldn’t wait for someone else to do it, he needed me.”
In 1992, Terri became a full-time volunteer for Kids Haven and in 1999 actively started working for the facility as one of the founding members.
In 2003, the facility opened its dedicated crèche with Terri at the helm.
The school offers placement for 39 children from within its own housing facility, inner-city children and children from the nearby eMandleni informal settlement.
“Foundation phase learning is of the utmost importance to me,” she said.
“These formative years are crucial in a child’s development and form the building blocks for their futures.”
She said that by placing children at the school, the facility is able to connect with their families. They offer parent courses to facilitate families with the necessary skills to raise their families.
“Through this pre-care programme, we are able to assist families in need, therefore, ensuring that the family unit remains intact and emotionally sound,” she said.
“This journey through the growth of Kids Haven has been one with many ups and downs, however, the impact our programmes have on the children has been deeply rewarding.”
Volunteer
The centre and its educational programmes rely heavily on donations but Terri concedes that donations of individuals’ time are equally valuable.
“We are looking for volunteers who are willing to donate two hours weekly to our village children to assist with homework,” she said.
“Although time will be spent assisting with projects or reading, time spent with our children has an ever-lasting impact on their lives and education.
“By being present, volunteers serve as anchors for these children, many of whom have only known abandonment and neglect.”
For more information email education@kidshaven.co.za.
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