“No words can express my gratitude, except thank you Focus on iThemba and partners for the amazing transformation of my school.” These are the heartfelt words of Cynthia Cibane, a proud owner and principal of the newly renovated Inkanyezi Pre-School – based in Mademeni, Hillcrest. Otherwise known as Project Star, the school supports 40 children with quality Early Childhood Development, and is the fourth partner Pre-School of Focus on iThemba’s to undergo radical transformation to their facilities.
The Hillcrest-based NPO, together with a group of 26 ‘partners of hope’, helped reshape the future of this school by transforming the facility from an inadequate structure to a bright, beautiful space conducive for quality teaching and learning. After only breaking ground in November 2020, Project Star reached completion in April 2021 and operates today as a brightly coloured ECD centre. It comprises five repurposed containers for the use of two classrooms, a kitchen, a sick-bay, an office, a storage unit and toilets for staff and children respectively. In addition to this, the children benefit from the installation of a jungle gym and large playground area to promote healthy gross-motor development and have access to age-appropriate learning materials and equipment. A 5 000l JOJO tank has also been installed on site to promote water sustainability and security. Looking ahead, the school will see expansion of a third classroom and a vegetable garden in 2022.
“The school’s former facilities weren’t conducive to learning at all and posed a big risk to the health and safety of the kids and teachers. They had access to only one toilet and tap, and children of all ages were learning in one poorly ventilated Wendy house,” says Team Leader at Focus on iThemba, Tayla-Anne Goss. “This transformation is truly remarkable and is testament to the power of partnership in making a real-world difference.”
The project reached completion thanks to (listed in alphabetical order):
The Bagnoli Family, The Belgotex Foundation Trust NPC, Bonga Hardware, Container World Self Storage, Container World, Cotswold Downs Estate, Cretemix, EW Consulting, Fry’s Metals, The GMA Foundation, GROW with Educare Centres, JOJO Tanks, JL Clarkson Land Surveyor, Kerry Ingredients South Africa, Key Group, Lead Architects, Nu-Quip, Pesco, Shula-Group, South African Container Depot, Topia Water, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Solutions, Warthog Plant Hire, Willie Construction, ZBR Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd.
If you would like to be involved in future transformation projects, please contact tayla@focusonithemba.org.
For more information, please contact Shelley Barron, Donor Relations and Marketing at Focus on iThemba; shelley@focusonithemba.org, 031 710 1807.
Drone Picture: Inkanyezi Pre-School, Project Star.