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The
Pastoral Centre Pre-school and Crèche
BMPC Liaison: Dianne Giombetti
The Kliptown community in Soweto has a long history, with the most memorable event being the signing of the Freedom Charter on June 26, 1955, in Kliptown Square. Despite its historical significance, 85 percent of Kliptown residents live in informal settlements, or “squatter camps”. In the Freedom Charter Square informal settlement, also known as Station Squatter Camp (so named because it borders the Kliptown railway station and train tracks), individual outdoor water taps are shared by as many as fifty families, and there is no formal plumbing. Unemployment is much higher than the 40-50 percent national average. People live in corrugated iron shacks with little privacy from each other and scant protection against the elements: rain in the summer, cold in the winter. Partly due to a combination of these living conditions, domestic abuse, alcoholism, and HIV/AIDS are rampant, putting the community’s youngest children at risk. Families affected by HIV/AIDS in particular have difficulty providing adequate care or opportunities for their children. The economic isolation of the squatter camp makes everything from medical care to education difficult to access for those with no income. There are no health care services, primary, or secondary schools in the immediate area; these are only accessible by public transportation, which is costly at a poverty level and dangerous after dark. The Pastoral Centre Preschool and Crèche is a registered non-profit, secular organization that provides a safe haven and early childhood education for 180 of the most vulnerable children from Freedom Charter Square. It is situated in the middle of the informal settlement, surrounded by closely-built shacks separated by narrow dirt tracks. At least half of the children come from families that are too poor to pay school fees; some of the parents do volunteer work in exchange for their children's attendance. Many children have lost one or both parents to AIDS, or have parents who are dying of AIDS. The crèche engages in community outreach to help grandparents who are raising orphaned children, to create self-help projects for poor parents, and to assist child-headed households. The crèche has 9 full-time staff: Pam Mfaxa, the head teacher and principal for 15 years, 5 teachers, two cooks, and a handyman. They work for very little salary. Pam also runs a support group for HIV-positive people affiliated with the crèche. They organize educational activities and make crafts to sell, including beautiful beaded pins and bracelets. Money raised by the support group goes to needy families, and sometimes to help children of HIV-positive parents attend school. There is also an active Board that oversees fundraising, strategic planning, and staff development. What you can contribute
The following are needed: 1. Financial donations are used:
2.Children’s clothes and shoes. Our children are aged 3 months to 6 years, and are always in need of undamaged, good quality play clothes and comfortable shoes. In winter we appreciate donations of warm jackets, hats, gloves/mittens, and jerseys. Adult clothing is distributed to parents. 3. Food and kitchen items. We are always looking for opportunities to receive discounts on staple food items such as mealie meal and rice, as well as once-off donations of perishables such as fruit and vegetables that the children enjoy. Extra-large pots and pans and cutlery for cooking are also appreciated. Snacks like chip packets and candies are appreciated, but are not at the top of our priority list since they do not help with much-needed nutrition. 4. Educational toys and games. Age-appropriate, undamaged toys, games, and books are accepted to heighten the classroom experience. We are particularly interested in large-sized illustrated picture books for story time; puzzles and blocks for children 4-6 years; and art supplies such as paper and paints, crayons, magic markers, and coloring books.
For more information
contact:
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