The little school that started under a tree in Lower Illovo is growing with the donation of a prefab building. Iris Canham started Indwe Africa with three eager-to-learn children at the beginning of the 2019 school year. Classes were held under the shade of a huge mango tree and when it rained, they would hold umbrellas over the learners’ heads and continue with lessons.
Worried about the children’s safety, they received permission from the pastor of the nearby Olivet Christian Fellowship Church to conduct classes either under another huge tree or carport. Even in these trying circumstances, the little school and after-care soon bulged at the seams with 70 learners between the ages of three and 21, and alternative premises were desperately needed.
M Projects, based in Prospecton, came to the rescue with the donation of a 12-metre long prefab container, which will be split into two classrooms. Zoe Life Ministries kindly offered Indwe Africa the use of its property and the little school now has a safer environment for the children to learn.
“Once we have cleared and filled the land towards the river, we will have even more space,” said a delighted Iris. “This is the first proper pre-school in the community, which is over 100 years old and is plagued with a high drop-out rate and unemployment, so we are very excited to set up a pre-school.”
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The structure already feels like a classroom with furniture that Iris had stored and books and learning aids now in a permanent home. Every day Iris would pack folding tables, books and equipment into two vehicles to be transported from Scottburgh. When she offered to buy the tables on loan, Wille Schultz of Amanda’s Cafe donated them for free.
Zoe Life has also offered the school the use of an unfinished building as an ablution block and kitchen if the school can complete it.
Three-year-old Sphesilhe Ngwabe, who was one of the first learners at the ‘nature school’, is over the moon with the new property and playtime is now so much more fun. “He is so amazing and the only one left. He joined us, as the school was just a few metres from his house and he has been such a consistent student,” said Iris.
His best buddy Stabiso Malapile loves his new school so much, he asked Iris if he can live there. “Stabiso couldn’t speak a word of English when he joined us. He lives in Ifracombe, as does another learner, and they get up at 4am every morning to catch a train, then a taxi and finally they get picked up in Winklespruit and dropped at school.
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“A huge thank you to M Projects. We gave the children the keys to open their new classrooms for the first time and to see the excitement on their faces and to hear them screaming and shouting was amazing. It’s been amazing to see the difference and joy in their learning in just one week, and the pride they now take in their new school. I hope that one day what we have taught them will allow them to become teachers and leaders with the potential we see in them. It is so good to see their pride and appreciation for what M Projects has done here for us,” said an emotional Iris.
To help Indwe Africa with learning or building materials, contact Iris on 074-440-6085.
Indwe Africa hosts a ‘Laying the Foundation for Great Readers’ workshop on Tuesday, 25 June from 9am to noon at Amanzimtoti Sports Centre,1 Riverside Road. To book, call Iris.
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