Struggling daycare in need of help
Despite working with children since 1993 in other institutions, she lamented about the difficulties of running her own centre.
When the Mogale City Local Municipality built homes for its residents in 2014 on the newly developed plot called Ethembalethu, Kgomotso Magabe saw a need for an Early-Childhood Development Centre.
Kgomotso, the founder of Mamoeketsi Day Care, which caters for children from as little as five months old, has been a daytime guardian for many children in this developing community, helping parents who have weekday jobs.
Despite working with children since 1993 in other institutions, she lamented about the difficulties of running her own centre. “I’m unable to keep my staff because they are never satisfied with what I pay them.
It’s been very difficult running this centre because of the limited resources I have and generating sufficient funds to handle the maintenance of the property,” she said.
Among the few donors who have come in to alleviate the pressure is Magda Hanekom, a Radiokop resident and representative of a private medical scheme called Med Clear, who has gone out of her way to raise funds in order to sustain the daycare centre.
Magda told the Northsider about her involvement during a handover of toys and stationery which left many bundles of joy smiling and playful on Friday, 18 January.
“I learnt about the daycare through my domestic worker whose little twins are cared for there. When my boss invested in the company I work for, I pitched the products we offer to my domestic worker who then pitched them to Kgomotso, who was keen on them,” she explained.
Upon her visit to do a presentation, Magda realised the centre needed more help in order to function at its best. “When I walked into the daycare, I was shocked to see how little they had. I then spoke to my boss and the company partners and then managed to raise about R2 500 in donations last year, which went towards the gift packs and the graduation of the pre-school learners,” she said.
After the handover and further assessment of the property, Magda also appealed for more donations from the community, such as roofing, tiles, paint and stationery, to help uplift the school’s inadequate infrastructure.
For donations, contact Magda on 083 331 2355 or the pre-school on 076 566 0845.
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