Start a Preschool for 60 Children in South Africa

I hope everyone is doing well in spite of these challenging times. We were excited to finally be able to open Siyabonga for the school year on February 15. As you may recall, shortly after COVID-19 cases were first identified in South Africa last March, the president of South Africa implemented a strict country-wide lockdown. Last August when new case numbers were down and the pandemic seemed to be getting under control, the imposed restrictions were relaxed. Schools, including early childhood education centres, were allowed to reopen in September if they implemented procedures to ensure the health and safety of children and staff. We were the first ECE centre in the area to reopen, and we remained open until we closed for the holidays. Unfortunately, in December COVID cases began to surge again due to a variant in the virus, and at the end of December the country again went into lockdown. Our province, KwaZulu Natal, was the hardest hit in the country. Though the lockdowns certainly had a significant impact on the families we serve, luckily I am not aware of any of our families being directly affected by COVID. No one on staff lost family members either, except for me. Sadly, I lost two aunts within a month.

In addition to the surge in COVID cases we experienced, we also had flooding in late January, which was brought on by heavy rains from the tropical storm Eloise. The first week we opened we only had 40 children in attendance. All but the main roads in the area are unimproved dirt roads, so it was challenging for families to bring in their children. This week our attendance grew to 98 children, higher than the 85 maximum we had hoped to maintain. This high number is in part due to other centres in the area not yet being able to open. We are maintaining all of the health and safety standards we implemented last fall: sanitizing and washing hands frequently, taking temperatures, giving each child a disinfected face shield when they arrive, doing more activities outdoors, and trying to maintain social distancing (though it is a little challenging with our youngest students).

We need support to continue providing services to our children and families and to be able to do extra measures to ensure a safe environment. Please consider making a donation to help us during these difficult times. And if you give between now and Friday, March 12, 11:59 pm EST, during GlobalGiving’s Little by Little campaign, your donation of up to $50 will be matched at 50%.

I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to one of our newer staff members. Nonhlanhla Masilela, pictured below, started working with our organization as a volunteer board member. I knew she had interest in getting more involved, so I encouraged her to go back to school. After completing her ABET, she enrolled at Embury Teachers College and has now completed the first two ECE courses, passing with distinction. She plans to continue with the program this year. She works as an assistant teacher in one of our classrooms now and is very good with the children.

The other picture shows one of our students, Ndalo, getting help washing his hands. Ndalo has been attending Siyabonga for three years since he was two and will be moving on to primary school at the end of the year. He is quiet, intelligent and creative and would like to be a teacher when he grows up. He lives with his mother and grandmother.

Thank you again for all your support. We couldn’t do what we do without you! And please remember all donations this week, up to $50, will be matched at 50% by GlobalGiving.

All the best.

This has been an extremely difficult year for most everyone. My heart goes out to all who have suffered a loss, faced illness, or struggled to cope with the impacts of the pandemic. Yet amidst all the adversity and hardship, there have been a few bright spots for us here at Siyabonga. First, we were able to find a way to help in our community during the lockdown by supplying soap and water, which most here do not have access to due to an ongoing water shortage in the area. Second, we had the staff and resources to put health and safety procedures in place and get approval from the South African government to open the Centre in September, shortly after the required closure of schools ended. Many centres in our region have not yet been able to meet all the requirements to do so. Third and most importantly, we received the support we needed from all of you to make this possible. I am so deeply grateful for your generosity at a time when there is so much need in the world.

When we opened in September, all but one of our five-year-olds, 70% of our four-year-olds, and 60% of our younger children returned. To ensure the safety of the children, each day we sanitized everything being brought into the school, took temperatures, washed hands, and gave each child a disinfected face shield. We moved most all of our activities outdoors, weather permitting, and put procedures in place to ensure social distancing and good hygiene. The last few months have gone smoothly, and staff and the children quickly adjusted to the changes we implemented. There were only a few minor challenges that we are able to sort out, such as children breaking their shields or wearing them like caps.

At the request of our families, we got approval to hold a modified graduation ceremony at the end of November. The younger children were excited to get a chance to perform, and our graduating class was happy to be recognized for their achievements. Pictured below are two of our learners. Fezeka is a four-year-old boy who is quiet but a good listener. He is creative, good at math, and likes reciting rhymes. When he grows up, he would like to be a teacher. Lerato is five years old. She is good in all areas, including life skills, numeracy, and literacy. She is a leader in her class and helped ensure everyone did well in the graduation activities. She would like to be a gynecologist when she grows up. 

We are closed now for the holidays and hope to reopen in mid-January, though we will likely still be asked to restrict our attendance to 70 children. Please consider a donation to Siyabonga as you do your year-end giving. We need your help to continue to provide a safe and positive space for vulnerable young children to learn and play.

Thank you again for your trust in us. Your continued support of our work benefits not only the children and families in our program but also our whole community.

I wish you and your loved ones health and happiness during these challenging times and all the best for the holidays and the new year.