Sponsor a child’s education

MAKABONGWE Methodist Pre-School is a gem in the heart of Durban's CBD.

The school, which caters for 150 pupils whose parents are traders or work in the Warwick Junction area, is hidden away on the DSW site in the middle of Warwick Junction, and is a haven for these children.

The school was started in September 1995 when a small group of women from Manning Road Methodist Church felt no child should be illiterate. Fifteen children sat on pieces of cardboard placed on the pavement in Brooke Street, and later a gazebo was bought in October 1996. The school moved into a shipping container which accommodated 20 children and there was no toilet, running water or electricity. In 1998, after negotiating with City Council's Town Planning Department, the school was allocated a building in Alice Street in August 1999. The children now have classrooms with bright posters on the walls, a grassy playground with a variety of interesting and challenging equipment, a motor track, sand pit and jungle gyms.

“We have been so blessed that everything we have was donated to us. We have four dedicated teachers and assistant teachers following an ECD programme, with teachers speaking different languages, as some of the children are from different parts of Africa,” said Theresa Lukan, principal.

Theresa is passionate about the school and her children. She was the general manager of a large corporate and 12 years ago decided to do community work, and volunteered at the school teaching music. The principal retired and offered her the job, and she snapped it up.

Theresa said the school invites people to visit, and has opened its door to four year Unisa Bright Sight social work students who work with the children twice a week and recognise any concerns. The students do individual or group counselling with the children as well as workshops for the teachers.

The school also does hearing tests for the children, with the help of the KZN Speech and Language Department.

“We have so much at the school, but our biggest need would be sponsorship for the children. We do get a subsidy from Social Welfare, but out of the 150 children. only 60 get a subsidy of R16 a day. We appeal to corporates to help sponsor R500 a month for a child, as this would help cover the shortfall and enable us to educate the children whose parents can't afford fees,” she said.

Theresa said if corporates would like to sponsor a child, they could also visit the school and get to know the child, and would be kept informed of the child's progress.

“We also need someone to volunteer two hours a day, twice a week to help with computers, and to teach ball skills. Another need is someone to volunteer to lay artificial grass for the children to play on,” she said.

If you can help in any way, contact Theresa on 082 457 1315.