The spirit of Mandela Day lives on at Monica Lolwane
Mandela Day may have come and gone but Tata’s spirit lives on as community members continue to extend a helping hand.
Parents of learners at Monica Lolwane Educare Centre in Protea North spent last Saturday painting the centre.
The educare centre was repainted and the garden was tended to as parents showed up in numbers and gave their weekends up in support of the spirit of Mandela Day. The repainting was done in a strategic manner which is meant to engage the children.
“We painted to brighten the centre, we specifically chose primary colours because when the children are playing outdoors they’ll be able to learn sequencing through the different primary colours outside” said the educare’s centre’s principal, Refiloe Gabahlole.
Gabahlole noted that it was important for children to see their parents giving back to the community as this would manifest the same spirit of giving within them. “I am so happy that the parents showed up in numbers. The children are overwhelmed by this and they are also trying to do what their parents are doing,” she said.
Ward 14 councillor, Makapane Mokwena, also supported the initiative by the educare centre by giving a donation. Mbongeni Vilakazi, a community member, brought his family to support the endeavour and had been in high spirits about it the whole week prior according to his daughters, Bonisile and Celiwe Vilakazi.
“We have to render community service, it’s a must. I wanted to teach my children to also take responsibility in life and to also gift them with the spirit of giving,” Vilakazi said.
The educare centre will further celebrate Mandela Day by hosting a movie day for the children on August 10. “We are going to choose educational movies for the children because children learn through experience and socialising so we wanted to make it fun for them. We want to teach them about who Mandela was and his love for children,” said Gabahlole.
