Informal settlement celebrates opening of new creche
On Friday the creche was handed over to the Lions by Conlog.
There was great cause for celebration at Dakota Beach informal settlement when the Lindokuhle Creche was handed over to eThekwini South Lions Club on Friday, 14 November.
The area, which boasts in excess of 600 shacks, has no creche and mothers have to leave their toddlers at home alone while they go to work. Often the older children cannot go to school as they are tasked with looking after the younger ones. Where there are no older siblings, one guardian routinely checks up on the toddlers or babies left in the shacks.
This is a dire situation, compounded by the possibility of shack fires. Dakota Beach has suffered three such fires in the last three years. In the most recent, a seven-year-old boy, Lindokuhle Myeza died and the creche was named after him.
In July, PR councillor for Isipingo, Jaco Pienaar approached Conlog in Durban to assist. It donated two 12-metre long refurbished shipping containers, which cost R80,000 to be used as a creche.
WK Construction prepared the ground for the containers to be placed on, while the Lions adopted the furnishing of the creche as a project and appealed to the community for help.
On Friday when the creche was handed over to the Lions by Conlog, all the Lions’ hard work and Conlog’s generosity was evident for all to see.
“We couldn’t believe the support we received from the community,” said president, Margaret Haus. “Baby push chairs, blankets, books, clothing and toys were donated by the public, as well as R10,000 from the Durban Host Lions Club, which was used to purchase furnishings and educational toys. Jarefs Paints donated paint, crayons and books; Halls Hardware donated paint; Kingsway Hospital donated furniture, while the staff of Mott MacDonald PDNA held a fundraiser for the creche on Mandela Day and bought a stove, kitchenware, educational toys and stationery.”
A community member, Oscar Myaka helped the Lions paint the containers bright and cheerful colours.
The R20,000 profit from the Lions’ donkey derby will be used to purchase food and baby mattresses for the 30 to 40 pupils.
For Cllr Pienaar to see the finished containers was a dream realised.
“The informal settlement needs this,” he said. “We need to educate these children and give them an opportunity. Four people who are already looking after children in the shacks will be trained as teachers, so this is a twofold project.”
A governing body will be elected, in the hope that the community will take ownership of the creche, which will also be used as a clinic and church.
A vegetable garden was planted by the agricultural department adjacent to the containers, which will help feed the children and community.
The creche will be handed over to the community by the Lions in January.
