Start a Preschool for 60 Children in South Africa

Dear Friends of Siyabonga,

School officially opened on January 15. We enrolled 115 children, higher than we are registered for but we usually have some dropouts during the year, and it is so hard to turn children away. The beginning of the school year is always challenging with new students trying to adjust but through prior planning, we managed to keep the learning process going smoothly.

We have been wanting to start an after-school program for several years but haven’t had the funds to do so. Although we still don’t have the funds to implement the type of programming we would like to, we decided to at least offer a basic program for primary students with our current teachers. I am working with the principals of two nearby primary schools to plan the program. The principals are meeting with parents to get their input as well. We are hoping that everything will come together soon and that we will be able to secure funding in the future to implement a more robust program. I also am meeting with our parents this month to discuss a parenting program that I hope to start in August with a group of about 30 parents. This is also something we have been wanting to do for some time. Hopefully we can get additional funding in the future to expand the program.

Although we are committed to providing an early foundation for learning with our younger students and preparing our older children for primary school, we also try our best to keep our children happy at all times. We always prioritize their enjoyment so that each morning when they come to the Center, they are excited to be here and they gain a love of learning. We try to end each week with a Friday fun day. One of our latest fun days was Picnic Friday. The teachers involved the parents and caregivers in planning the event and the response was really positive. After the picnic, the children played a number of different games. I think the children really enjoyed themselves.

As always, your support is essential to continuing our programs at Siyabonga. And if you give this week, your gift can have an even bigger impact! For their “Little by Little” campaign, GlobalGiving will match all donations of up to $50 at 50% from now through Friday, March 28 (or until funds run out, so please give early). Your generosity this week can help ensure we have the funds we need to continue our program for the rest of the school year.

Thank you again for everything you have done for Siyabonga over the years. We would not be able to provide the services we do without your support. You have truly helped to uplift the lives of the hundreds of children who have attended Siyabonga since it began.

With deep gratitude and best wishes,

Khethiwe