Donations needed to renovate shack school
Nov 13 2008 03:27:15:573PM  - (SA)  
Marti Will

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Neat little uniforms and bright happy smiles. These are the children of the Lesedi Lakganya Day-Care Centre in Mandela Park, next to Bronville.

It is difficult to think that the 167 enrolled pupils in this tiny shack school come from the poorest of the poor in our region. Their ages range from small babies to six-year-olds. They are housed in three of the four rooms, with a neat kitchen occupying the fourth. The pre-schoolers and gr. Rs are in the first classroom, the babies are in a nursery room and the three- to six-year-olds are in the last classroom. A shiny row of toilets is to one side, and the smell of a cooking meal engulfs one’s nose.

The children sing with exuberance, they pray with love and dedication, they paint like Picassos - they are proud little souls.

Mrs Patricia Pule, the founder and principal of the school, says there are currently only 120 children. “The poor economic climate prevents the parents from paying the school fees and then the children cannot come to school.”

Lesedi was started by Patricia and her husband, Hendrik, in 1997 when they identified a need for this kind of facility in their community. The first four children were two of their own, and two others. The figure grew rapidly, but the premises remained four tiny shack rooms.

In 2003 Mrs Gertie Bisset of Kingdom Ministries became involved, and dedicated her time to assisting where she could. Rooms were painted, toilets put in and decorations, furniture and school necessities created a warm and loving environment.

Bisset has now retired from the project and Mrs Natie de Beer has become the driving force behind it. She has dedicated her time and energy to ensure that these small people are always healthy and happy. The day-care centre survives on donations, obtained by De Beer and Pule from generous donors.

De Beer, a trained health professional, has twice tried to obtain funding for this precious project. Then last week the Local Heroes Project, which forms part of the Nedbank Foundation, donated R10 000.

This money will be used towards renovating new premises.

De Beer and Pule are ecstatic. “We still need about R100 000 to make the building we have in mind suitable for children.

“Any donations of old building material, paint, bricks, doors, pipes, windows and other items will be more than welcome,” says De Beer.

For enquiries call De Beer on 083-501-0884.

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