Yesterday, these were delivered to Masande, an educare centre in Khayelitsha. The donation included two upcycled six metre container classrooms, a six metre container kitchen and a six metre ablution block.
IsiXhosa for "new home", Khayelitsha welcomed the new learning centre of 42 learners between the age of six months and six years old. Following a spate of violent crime in the area, the brightly coloured Masande, which means "let us grow", brings an uplifting "good news" story and message of hope to community members. Prior to receiving the new classroom and kitchen the conditions of Masande were shocking to say the least - severe leaking, no flushing toilets, an insufficient amount of educational and developmental learning material etc. Nevertheless, it provided a reliable early childhood development service to the community.
Ntombentsha Sobekwa, the manager of Masande, was a community health worker for 15 years before starting the educare centre. Going from door-to-door, Ntombentsha came across many children both affected and infected by HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, sexual abuse and neglect. Moved by compassion, Masande opened its doors on 12 January 2009 to some of Khayelitsha's most vulnerable children.
As Breadline Africa, Macquarie Securities and the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation presented Ntombentsha with the key to her new facility; she was overwhelmed with gratitude and joy and with tears in her eyes said, "I don't know how nor do I have the words to thank you for what you have done for me and the children of Khayelitsha Site C. When I started the centre, conditions were very bad and time after time I was promised help, but nothing ever came of it. A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders today - finally, a promise delivered."
Programme Director for Breadline Africa Puleng Phooko said, "One of the most inspiring things about working for Breadline Africa is the fact that we are able to support individuals, like Ntombentsha, who make a remarkable difference in the lives of children who are exposed to dreadful conditions and who come from heart-breaking circumstances. As a team we are more than thrilled to be supporting Ntombentsha and ultimately the community in this way."
Happily lodged in its new home with donations of blankets, books, educational and developmental learning material, collected and gathered for the centre during Mandela Month, Masande looks forward to its continued work in the community of Khayelitsha.
For more information: http://breadlineafrica.org/
