2016 PROJECTS
Our 2016 projects fall into 4 distinct areas.
Waste2Toys
Funding Waste2Toys workshops for teachers and home-based carers remains our most effective means of impacting the greatest number of pre-schoolers.
When we are approached by organisations or individuals requesting ECD assistance, our first response is to connect them with phenomenal NPO, Singakwenza, who offer 3hr workshops on gross motor development, fine motor development and literacy skills. The delegates are given insight into ECD and taught how to convert common waste into toys that develop all 3 areas essential to school readiness. As these are impoverished communities, the impact is huge. Ideally, 35 – 45 delegates are accommodated at each workshop at a cost of R2000 to Chic Mamas.
From Jan - May 2016, workshops were funded in Chesterville, Groutville and Amanzimtoti. Two more are booked for August and September.
Upgrading Umzamo Child Care Centre
Umzamo is in a severely impoverished informal settlement and the extension was started in the last quarter of 2015. In January 2016, enrolment quadrupled and 2 teacher assistants had to be employed. The 25 preschoolers aged 2 – 5yrs are thriving.
In February, a jungle gym was installed at Umzamo, by CityHope , and a Wendy House was donated and has been painted. A water harvesting system now supplies Umzamo with water for both consumption and ablutions. It consists of guttering donated by Alugant, which directs rainwater into 2 Jojo Tanks, and Concrete toilets donated by ROCLA, that have been plumbed to serve the staff and pupils. This has provided a significant alternative to the unhygienic communal ablutions and distant water points supplied for the 2000 residents.
In June 2016, the preschool property was extended and 10 babies aged 3–24mths were moved from their dilapidated wood & iron structure into a new log cabin. With the preschool and its feeder crèche on the same plot, the Umzamo Child Care Centre can function as a unit once more. The entire Centre has been securely fenced, providing a safe facility for all.
Umzamo will remain the focal project until completion, in the third quarter.
ECD Training
A well-equipped preschool is worthless without trained staff. In December 2015, the Durban Mamas elected to fund accredited pre-primary, teacher training for Nomusa Dlungwana, the inspirational woman who heads up Umzamo. Nomusa attends Saturday lectures at Caversham Training Institute and we stand amazed at her passion to make a difference and apply all she learns. Her personal growth, and the transformation in the children is a delight to see and fully justifies the investment. Lindhle, Nomusa’s assistant in the pre-school, attends monthly Crèche Forum training.
Jumble Entrepreneurial Project
This project continues to empower unemployed women through the purchase and re-sale of bags of jumble. Proceeds fund ECD needs at Umzamo.
Future Project – House of Hope Crèche and Preschool
Once the Umzamo project is complete, we will turn our attention to a desperate situation in Clermont where 43 children and 3 carers are crammed into a single 12 sq m room. Maureen who runs the crèche has already attended a Waste2Toys workshop and we will be evaluating the most urgent needs and funding required.
2015 PROJECT REPORT
This year has been a miraculous adventure!
We’ve had the privilege of teaming with Save the Children by funding Waste2Toys workshops in Umzinto, Durban and Lamontville. Ten ECD kits were distributed to home based carers committed to training at the Crèche Forum in Chesterville and we were able to fund structural repairs at Inkanyezi crèche.
Our joy and dream come true has been the installation of a *stunning new pre-school for 3 – 5 year olds who attend Umzamo Day Care Centre. Completion will be in early 2016.
Our ongoing Jumble entrepreneurial project is now operating out of Umzamo Day Care Centre and all funds are being used for learning materials for the new pre-school.
2015 PROJECT PROGRESS
WASTE2TOYS WORKSHOP
Our first 2015 workshop was attended by 61 Crèche Forum leaders from all over KZN. We will be funding training for 380 ECD practitioners at three further workshops booked for the second half of the year.
ECD KITS
On 25th July, nine amazing women were presented with their ECD kits. These home-based carers attend ongoing training in their quest to equip the children in their care. They were delighted to each receive a table and 4 chairs and a storage crate containing play dough kits, beanbags, scissors, paper, crayons, puzzles, chalkboards kits & toy and hand sanitiser.
UMZAMO CRECHE & DAYCARE UPGRADE
The full upgrade of Umzamo Crèche is ready to be rolled out pending confirmation of a converted container to replace the current unsafe wooden structure.
ON-GOING ENTREPRENEURIAL PROJECT
Donated jumble from a variety of sources is processed into bags by one of our CHIC MAMAS and then passed on to CityHope.
The bags are then overseen and sold by CityHope for a nominal amount to unemployed women in Chesterville who sell the garments and use the profits to support their families and purchase further bags.
CityHope invests the proceeds from the sale of the bags back into ECD projects and food parcels for destitute, often child-headed homes identified by social workers in Chesterville.
2014 PROJECTS
2014 ECD WORSHOPS IN CLERMONT
In the first half of 2014, we identified the very real need for ECD workshops to equip township & rural Grade R teachers.
With the blessing of the Department of Education we were able to arrange and fund two Waste2Toys workshops presented by ECD specialists, Singakwenza. The DOE regional supervisor invited 103 township and rural educators from 80 schools in her region. Those who attended were encouraged to share the input with their colleagues and thereby potentially impact the lives of hundreds of pupils, as on average, grade R class sizes are between 40 – 50 pupils per teacher.
2014 PROJECTS IN CHESTERVILLE
INKANYEZI CRECHE
Inkanyezi Crèche is a flagship crèche, positioned in Jamaica, one of the most needy areas of Chesterville and serves as a beacon of light to the local community. One of our 2014 projects was the funding of a new jungle gym and rocking boat for their playground. In addition a donation of giant tennis balls was received with delight. Chic Mamas also, funded the much-needed upgrade of their ablution block.
ZAMOKUHLE CRECHE
Zamokuhle Crèche is linked to CityHope. Chic Mamas supplied hardware materials to assist CityHope with jungle gym installations and donated plastic scooters to the school.
2014 PROJECT IN RESERVOIR HILLS
UMZAMO CRECHE AND DAY CARE
At the request of Feed the Babies fund, Chic Mamas began relating to Umzamo Crèche and Day Care in Reservoir Hills. This facility was recently rebuilt after burning down and is the only such facility serving the 2000 inhabitants of the informal settlement. Assessment and visits were done in 2014 and the potential for 2015 involvement was established. The children were happy recipients of giant tennis balls.
2013 PROJECTS
CHRISTIANENBERG PRIMARY SCHOOL, CLERMONT
Our first projects were the installation of a jungle gym for 120 Grade R pupils at the Christianenburg Primary School in Clermont, and the establishment of a double water tank system and vegetable garden to supplement the food needs of an NPO, caring for 178 aids orphans and children in need at the school. Donations of library books, a photocopier and computers were made to the school by Chic Mamas supporters.
