Bright beginning for Molweni Preschool
Siyabaphephisa Preschool used to operate from a broken Wendy house.
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THE school year started with new and exciting opportunities for Siyabaphephisa Preschool children who will be learning inside seven bright containers. The preschool in Molweni also boasts a large outdoor play area.
This thriving Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre, also otherwise known as Project Bright, is steered and championed by Bright Zondi, a devoted principal, crèche owner and respected member of the community who believes in providing children a learning environment that sees them being stimulated, inspired, and nurtured.
Siyabaphephisa welcomed 42 children of which 10 are Grade R learners.
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Zondi’s driving belief has led to the significant growth of the school over the last few years, and most recently, the opening of a Grade R classroom in January.
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The school’s transformation journey was facilitated by Focus on iThemba, a local non-profit organisation that has been working towards elevating the quality of ECD in community schools for more than 11 years.
“Project Bright is one of our five successful transformation stories that promotes the power of collaboration and partnership,” said Tayla-Anne Goss, Focus on iThemba Team Leader.
Goss said the preschool first joined their iThemba Educare Programme in 2014 with facilities that were far from conducive to fostering an environment of high-quality learning.
“It was through partnering with 13 donors in 2017 that we were able to facilitate a complete infrastructural transformation for them.”
Goss added that the benefit and success of this transformation lies in Project Bright’s extraordinary growth.
A delighted Zondi thanked Focus on iThemba and the donors who made the transformation happen.
“If it was not for them, we would still be operating out of my broken Wendy house and would not have so many children attending Siyabaphephisa,” said Zondi.
She highlighted that the parents of the Molweni community share the same sentiment.
“I am proud of how far my school has come, and I am thankful to have this new Grade R class which is not only benefitting the children but also bringing in extra income for my school,” said a grateful principal.
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