Tembe Creche

KZN: MIDLANDS
TEMBELIHLE CRECHE
(Newcastle)

1. Introduction:

The importance of early childhood development have been acknowledge by Government and the Department of Social Development were task to spearhead a process to establish facilities (crèches) to ensure that all children will have access to this service.

Unfortunately due to a lack of funding the roll out of this service have been delayed and in some instances crèches that were opened had to close again because of a lack of funding. The communities that are affected mostly are rural and previously disadvantage communities because these communities have no resources and due to there socio economical situation can not contribute financially.

At this stage the back log is of such a nature that the challenge can not be addressed on the short and medium term. If some of these communities do not receive other support the children from these areas will still not have access to such a service.

2.  Background:

Tembelihle Crèche is situated in Amajuba Forest a remote rural area near Newcastle.
The need for this project was identified by two MIB Members of the 2004  Newcastle
MIB Group. The crèche was established in August 2004 with 15 pre-school children
between  2-4 years.

3. Community Profile

The community represents “the poorest of the poorest”
- Unemployment rate of +- 80%
- High level of poverty
- High level of substance abuse
- High level of Hiv/Aids
- High level of teenage pregnancies
- No access to basic services like running water, electricity, transport, clinic etc
- Only a primary school therefore a very high number of learners dropping out after grade 7.

4. Project Objective
- To provide child care and early childhood development to children between 2-4 years
- To provide 2 meal per day to +- 30 pre school children ( in many cases the only meals for the day)

5. Achievements

- Registered as child care facility with Department of Social Development
- Application for  NPO registration finalized
- Funding applications to Social Development submitted in 2005/6/7/8/9/10
- +- R100 000-00 raised since 2004 through support of individual local donors, local church groups and local fundraising events (Annual Golf Day & Music Concert)
- Parent involvement/support improved and small contributions are made

6. Project Budget:

Item	R/c (Annual)
Food (R10-00 per child per day)	R72 000-00
Gas (for cooking)	R1 800-00
Cleaning material	R1 200-00
Stationary	R600-00
Maintenance of Premises	R3 200-00
Stipends	R12000-00
Total	R90 000-00

7. Challenges:

- Department of Social Development  is responsible to subsidize crèches but since January 2009 they could not fulfill this responsibility due to a lack of funds. It is also clear that this situation will not be addressed on the short to medium term.

- The community is faced with so many challenges regarding their socio economic situation that they are not in a position to contribute towards this service. On the other hand the children from these communities are the one’s that are in serious need for a service like this.

- Access to funds and donors in small communities like Newcastle becomes a challenge because so many projects have to compete for the same limited funds.

8. Way Forward : 2011/12

- Application for funding was submitted to Department of Social Development for 2010/11
- Proposals were submitted by local office to various local potential donors regarding the following:

• Milk Powder
• Soup Powder
• Mealy Meal
• Cleaning Materials
• Secondhand Clothes
• Toys
• Stationary  

- Two fundraising events are organized:

• Golf Day (5 June 2010)
• Music Concert (23 October 2010)

Susan Theunissen
April  2011