Tshakane Creche

KZN: MIDLANDS
TSHAKANE CRECHE
(Ladysmith)

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:

Tshakane Crèche is situated in township near Ladysmith.
The need for this project was identified by a MIB Members of the 2004 Ladysmith
MIB Group. The crèche was established in October 2004 with 15 pre-school children
Between 2-4 years. The crèche provides a service to “lower income” parents that need    to leave home early in the morning and that are coming back home late afternoon.

3. Community Profile
The community is faced with the following challenges:
- High level of poverty
- High level of substance abuse
- High level of Hiv/Aids
- Lack of support services

4. Project Objective
- To provide child care and early childhood development to children between 2-4 years
- To provide 1 meal per day to +- 25 pre school children

5. Achievements

- Application for registration as NPO was finalized
- Application for registration as child care facility was submitted 
- Donations regarding stationary, toys and equipment were obtained

6. Project Budget:

Item	R/c (Annual)
Food (R10-00 per child per day)	R60 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	R78 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 Ladysmith becomes a challenge because so many projects have to compete for the same limited funds.

8. Way Forward : 2011/12

- Application for registration as a child care facility was submitted to Department of Social Development for 2010/11
- Proposals were submitted from local office to various local potential donors regarding the following:

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

Susan Theunissen
Date: April 2011