For some time now we have been trying to get to the New Generation crèche in Dobsonville, Soweto to do a large distribution to around 80 children and on Tuesday, 18 March we finally got there!
The KASvan parked outside the school.
I headed off to Soweto bright and early to meet up with Wandi before heading to Dobsonville. We stopped off to drop some more blanket packs at Peo Mpepe for the gogos to sew up and met up with our friend David again who was very excited to see us. After a very brief visit, and having collected 50 completed blankets from the gogos, we headed to New Generation.
This project was founded 10 years ago and is immaculately managed and run by Mrs Tshabalala to ensure that the children of her community receive a proper education and are taught by qualified teachers in a caring, but disciplined environment. She has created a model of excellence where the kids are being given foundational preparation for “big school”. It really is an inspiring venture with happy faces everwhere!
A very well run school!!!
The women involved with New Generation had long since arranged for the blankets to be stitched up and some of the pics show where they are stored during the day. The children will be allowed to take their soft toys home, but the blankets will be used at the school!! Sometimes this makes for less complication where siblings at home might challenge for ownership!
Your beautiful KAS blankets stored in the children’s lockers for bed time.
The teachers were thrilled with everything - and the kids were excited, too.
Sadly some of the pics have an awful GREEN tinge about them - I only realised this once I got home and looked at them again. There was this bright green awning above the play area... !!!!!!
The children under the green shade cloth!
Mrs Tshabalala had a chat to Wandi before we left and mentioned that she "mentors" some very poor crèches in the nearby Snake Park area. She is going to talk to other crèches about stitching up blankets for the kids in their care, and will be in touch with Wandi to set it all up in due course.
Wandi and I chatting to Mrs Tshabalala.
The children loved their toys, beanies and tops.
They celebrated by singing and dancing, miming some complicated actions and clapping their hands, and were encouraged to improvise one song which went along the lines of …
“Thank-you uMumRonda / Thank-you uMumWandi – God bless you!” Which was just delightful !!!
Replies
Another inspiring lady and report AND I think I may have spotted one of my squares. KAS is sooo worthwhile, I just wish I had found you sooner.
Thank you Ute ... as a matter of interest, I am about to pay R200.00 to Bayley Worldwide Removals for "document fees" on a parcel sent by you ... does this sound correct ? Happy to pay, but have never heard of them before and just wanted to ask first.
Kind regards - Ronda
Hi Ronda
The R200.00 for the parcel sounds about right as I have received a similar e:mail from Gina at KAS. If you pay this I will reimburse you. Shall I do it as a 'one off donation' or is there another way that you would prefer. There should be two boxes in this delivery. Box 1 has mainly clothes, soft toys and squares from me. Box 2 is made up of clothes from me and various packages from other members of UK KAS and I have listed them separately inside. Please let me know how to reimburse you so I can do it ASAP. Many thanks. I am so pleased the goods have arrived and plan to do something similar a bit later in the year if that is ok with you and will of course be happy to reimburse any duties. I already have quite a stash growing.
Kind regards Ute
What an inspiring report, Mrs. Tshbalaia deserves reward & recognition for the commitment and dedication to create such a wonderful well organised pre-school. The children who pass through her hands will go on to develop/evolve and be stimulated to go on to even higher levels! So glad that KAS members are providing support for this truly stimulating Lady!