Start a Preschool for 60 Children in South Africa

Dear Friends,

Thembanathi is very pleased to introduce the new Executive Director of Syabonga Early Childhood Development and Care Centre - Weekend Ngubane. Weekend joined the Centre on October 1. We are thrilled to have him on board to help take the organization to the next level in terms of fundraising, sustainability, and program development. 

Weekend grew up and studied in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, where he graduated with a BA in English and History and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Natal. Weekend went on to earn his Master of Education degree from Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape. Weekend began his career as a teacher. He spent a number of years teaching English and History at Umthoqotho High School in the community where he grew up outside of Pietermaritzburg. He then moved on to be a History teacher and Head of the Social Sciences Department at Alexandra High School in Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg.  Weekend told us that he enjoyed his teaching career, but decided to leave it to pursue his interest in working with programs providing services for children and youth. He spent several years working as the Director of the SOS Children’s Villages in Pietermaritzburg and then was the Director at Ethelbert Child and Youth Care Centre in Durban.

Weekend shared that he has a passion for children. He believes in their protection, empowerment, and holistic development. It is for these reasons that Weekend was so excited to become a part of Siyabonga Centre, where he hopes to lead and facilitate the growth of the organization. Weekend believes in teamwork, and hopes that together with local stakeholders, the centre will "grow from strength to strength." He envisions the organization not only as an early childhood development centre, but also as a resource centre for primary, secondary, and tertiary students. He sees the potential for the centre to develop to offer programs like computer literacy lessons, a community library, educational enrichment programs for students, a training centre, and a vibrant hub for other community development projects. In the area, many people study for university degrees online (due to issues with cost and accessibility), so such a centre could support children from early childhood education through the completion of their secondary education, and even help community members complete their university degrees.

Weekend has told us that when he arrived as an "outsider” in the Mtubatuba area, he found the community members in the area to be immediately welcoming, friendly, and easy to work with. The members of the community share their ideas openly and enjoy sharing words of wisdom with him. He has been impressed with how hard they are striving for the betterment of their lives despite the difficult circumstances in which many live. "They are the people one can walk with to achieve common communal objectives," he explains.

We are really excited to have Weekend joining the team at Siyabonga and are very optimistic that with his vision and direction, and the leadership of new members of the Board of Directors, the organization is poised to grow in amazing new ways. We hope you will continue to support Siyabonga as they work to become more stable and independent and expand to include broad-based, holistic services for children and families in the area.

Thank you for your ongoing support and for helping us reach this new milestone for Siyabonga and the children it serves.

With gratitude,

The Team at Thembanathi