Ububele appeals for support
KEW - As Mandela Day is fast approaching, Ububele Pre-School in Kew on the outskirts of Alexandra is appealing for funding as one way of celebrating the amazing life of former President Nelson Mandela, by following his footsteps and focusing on the children.
“On this special day the staff at Ububele are asking others to think about raising money for the Ububele Pre-School, which not only provides quality education but also play therapy for kids who are struggling emotionally, including parent support for our pre-school parents and others in Alex. We also provide training for pre-school teachers and child caregivers in Alexandra and other communities,” said Lee-Anne Eastwood, head of the Early Child Division of Ububele Educational and Psychotherapy Trust.
“I honestly do feel that the difference that the school is making makes it a wondrous place filled with laughter and thoughtfulness. On a daily basis, the school and the staff make an enormous difference to the lives of these small children, their families and the Alexandra community as a whole, ” she added.
Eastwood said the school ran at a loss every year and that this was so hard to stomach, considering that the future is “dependent on the young children who emerge from such settings”. She added, “I think we should, as a nation, insist on providing high quality care at all levels – emotional, social, physical and educational. Ububele Pre-School changes the lives of these children, preparing them to be self-confident and caring adults one day.”
“We spend so much time making sure that our own children are given every opportunity but unfortunately not all parents are in a position to do this. This is why institutions like Ububele Pre-School are so important to bridging that gap. We are encouraging people to spend their minutes holding a cupcake party at their home, at work or at their children’s school. Cupcakes are provided in exchange for donations. Those donations will then be used for us to keep our fantastic school open,” Eastwood said.
Eastwood added that they wanted people to think about ‘our’ pre-school when they go about their celebrations on Tata Madiba’s birthday. “We really need people to start fighting for us to stay where we are and continue doing what we do,” she concluded.
