VWCT Newsletter 2

MORNING STAR a bright future for early learners in KwaLanga.

Volkswagen Community Trust announces R4.5m development project to establish a new Pre-School in KwaLanga, Uitenhage in 2009.

The VW Community Trust recognises that the future lies in the hands of our children, and if we want it to be a prosperous one, we need to be investing in their education and upbringing.

Through community stakeholder consultation, a need has been identified to consolidate some of the local pre-schools that are operating within the KwaLanga, Uitenhage area. Many of these pre-schools are currently caring for abandoned, abused, infected and affected children.

The Community Trust has to date built three pre-schools in the area and has also contributed to 18 pre-school principals obtaining the relevant tertiary qualifications.

However, there are more than three pre-schools in the area that operate under conditions that are simply not suitable for children. From the most basic physical environment and lack of shelter, through to a lack of a developmental and nurturing programmes, these pre-schools’ challenges are compounded by problems around staff capacity and effective management.

The Trust is therefore pleased to announce the approval and implementation of a R4.5m project incorporating the construction and resource development of a new Pre-School in KwaLanga, Uitenhage. Catering to around 150 children between the ages of 1 month to 6 years, the pre-school will be called Ikhwezi Lomso – meaning Morning Star.

Ensuring best practice governance and sustainability.

The beneficiaries of Ikhwezi Lomso will include existing local pre-schools and NGO’s within the area that do not have the facilities or capacity to cope with their existing pre-school commitments.

By incorporating these beneficiaries into one pre-school, the Trust aims to impact significantly on the efforts of ensuring proper facilities, safety and security at an early stage for the children in it’s community.

The strategy for Ikhwezi Lomso Pre-School also focuses on ensuring proper governance structures to run and oversee the project as well as ensuring sustainability of the project by involving all relevant government departments.

The SA Congress for Early Childhood Development has a process of integrating pre-schools and will therefore be assisting in the recruitment of the Principal and staff – within the framework of integrating existing staff already active in the pre-schools that are being incorporated.

The Volkswagen Community Trust is contributing 100% of the funding requirement towards the project. We look forward to keeping you updated on the various government and corporate partners that are partnering with the Trust on the project.

We also invite organisations and corporate friends to contact Weza Moss if you are interested in exploring ways to participate in or contribute to the Ikhwezi Lomso Pre-School project.