Rotary club steps in to give creche a new beginning
A KWANOBUHLE creche teacher is one step closer to realising her dream of a new school for the children of the Uitenhage township.
Ivy Plaatjies first introduced the idea of relocating Unathi Pre-School to the Rotary Club of Uitenhage South eight years ago, but the project was delayed by municipal red tape.
The good news finally came this month, club project coordinator Alex Govender said, when the building plans were approved.
Govender will meet with the Table of Peace and Unity – the project’s main sponsor – in Cape Town later this week for the organisation to approve the plans and release R250 000 in sponsorship funds.
The project is expected to be completed two months after it is approved.
Plaatjies, 44, said yesterday it was a miracle.
“I feel truly blessed to be receiving this type of assistance. It has been hard for me and the 48 children in our creche.
“The shack where I take care of these children is in a bad condition,” she said.
“Myself together with Cynthia Mabona – who has since moved to Grahamstown – started this creche in 1986 with the aim of providing quality education to the foundation phase. Now thanks to these wonderful people, we can.”
The new premises will be located in Dwetsha Street, Nguluza in KwaNobuhle, and will comprise four containers.
These will serve as two classrooms with toilets, staff room, storeroom and sick bay.
There will also be a play area which Rotary will stock with equipment.
The creche was introduced to the Rotary Club through Uitenhage resident Leslie-Ann Gilbert, who together with her husband, Shaun, have been gathering sponsorships for the creche for 20 years.
“Our former priest at St Katharine’s Anglican Church asked us to take the creche under our wing, and we have since tried to find sponsorships for them,” Gilbert said.
“Initially we would get things like toys and crayons, but now, thanks to the grace of God and the Rotary Club, the children and staff have a new school which can only benefit the children.”