Ebony Park’s Mma Bana Pre-School staff and learners welcomed their newly revamped early learning facility on 24 March.
After many months of having to endure to using a centre not up to standard, their plans came into fruition. This is thanks to Massmart and Hope Worldwide South Africa’s contributions through their Succeed programme which stands for supporting children and their caregivers in early childhood development.
Upon the unveiling of the refurbished early childhood development centre, principal Julia Machete said how difficult it was for them to renovate their centre on their own after their plans were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which exhausted all their funds.
Machete thanked their donors, Massmart, Builders Warehouse and Hope Worldwide SA for the extraordinary work done to the local community’s beacon of hope, adding that she was grateful because they had a huge problem with their toilets among other things. “I am thankful Massmart and Hope Worldwide SA came in to assist,” she added.
According to Mokotse Legodi, Massmart’s account manager, some of the problems Mma Bana Pre-School had was that most parents could not afford fees due to loss of employment, no funding was available to repair damages such as roof leaks, plumbing and holes in the floor. There was no income during Covid-19 lockdowns to pay teacher salaries, among other things.
“Massmart and Builders Warehouse supported with the installation of the ceilings in three classrooms and the bathrooms, fixing of broken toilets, plastering of walls and crack closure, painting of the centre and jungle gyms as well as fixing the plumbing throughout the centre. We also donated toys, food parcels (through the Add Hope Nutrition Support).”
Legodi added that the new centre would help to enable early childhood development centres to be conducive for the learning and stimulation of young children.
“The ECD centre will now be able to be registered and receive a registration certificate. They can now apply for government funding to enable them to care for the children in the centre.”
Details: Mma Bana Pre-School 011 204 0829.
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