They say it takes a village to raise a child, but when it comes to providing a safe learning environment, Rotary Club of Hermanus has brought together three countries and two NGOs.
The local Rotary club has secured funding from member clubs in Scotland, Germany, England and Breadline Africa to provide new classrooms for Woelwaters Crèche in Mount Pleasant.
Enlighten Education Trust is deeply involved and brought the Woelwaters’ plight to Rotary’s attention in March. The 35 three- to five-year-olds presently spend their days in a local church hall that does not comply with basic health and safety standards or provide a safe outdoor area for play. Although bright and cheerful and brimming with educational materials it, therefore, does not qualify for much-needed funding from the Western Cape Department of Basic Education.
Only about 65% of families, most of whom are single parents, pay the school’s fees. It also employs a dedicated teacher. Rotary Club of Hermanus’s project champion and fundraiser Adré Smit recently paid the deposit for two pre-fabricated classrooms to be erected on a new site. With any luck, 40 children will be attending the new premises by the start of the next term. Breadline Africa, also devoted to providing safe spaces for children to learn and grow, has inspected and approved the new property, which will include an enclosed play area and two toilets.
Could be moved
It is owned by family of Mardelyn Montague, owner and principal of Woelwaters since 2011. The classrooms could be moved to another location if necessary. “My dream is to be known as the best early learning centre and the best principal in the area,” Montague said with a huge smile recently.
She spoke with pride about past pupils who come back to visit. One is training to be a teacher at Boland College, Caledon, and another works at Enlighten. They pass on what they have received.
Rodney Nissen, Enlighten’s projects manager, contacted Smit after Rotary Hermanus’s successful involvement with the renovation of Sonstraaltjies ECD in Hawston. It cares for more than 50 children and had been threatened with closure due to health and safety standards. Enlighten have worked with Montague and Woelwaters over the past years and know her to be a dedicated educator who attends professional development, including teaching children with special needs, and who involves children’s families at monthly meetings and utilises the vast array of Enlighten’s resources. The NGO is involved with 68 educare centres from Betty’s Bay to Hermanus.
Pay half
Breadline Africa, which has constructed 487 classrooms in South Africa, stepped in and inspected the proposed Woelwaters’ site and found it suitable for two classrooms at a cost of R730 000. They agreed that they would pay half and Rotary Club of Hermanus would need to fund the remainder.
Then local Rotarians reached out to overseas clubs. The magic of Rotary International is that it has more than 45 000 clubs worldwide, all devoted to service. One member took the presentation to the Rotary Club of Esk Valley, Scotland, another met a visiting Rotarian from Wasserburg Club, Germany, while on duty at Rotary’s Bargain Box and spoke about the project and Smit made an online presentation to the club. Each have committed about R80 000. Another Rotarian secured funding from Rotary clubs in Cornwall, England.
The Hermanus has contributed the remainder. It focuses fundraising efforts on Early Childhood Development (ECD), considered crucial for later learning and development through annual events such as Hermanus Christmas Carols, on 16 December this year. Nissen best described the way the role players feel about the education and development of primary and pre-primary school children.
“My dream is to see every community adopt and support an ECD learning centre,” he said from his perch on a child’s plastic chair.
