Category: Campaigns

It’s the last term in 2021 and children and teachers are gearing up for a very busy few weeks. This week COLT celebrates its 4th Birthday!

In July we launched our Birthday campaign to raise funds towards our teacher’s and driver’s salaries. We are most grateful to the many donors who have already donated in support of our campaign, but we have a long way to go still to reach our target of R170 000!

Follow this link to read our Birthday campaign blog – http://colt.org.za/birthday-campaign/

To make your donation please follow this link – http://colt.org.za/donate/ 

 

Juliet Mabhauwah started at Children of Light Educare (Colt) when it opened in 2017. She says: “I came only with my lovable personality and no experience in ECD (early childhood development). I came with a love for children. Patience is something that I struggled with, but I feel the reason God placed me at COLT was to learn patience. My journey started with having to work very hard on myself. It was not easy. I was very fortunate to have role models like teacher Mala and teacher Devi and learnt from the way that they worked with the children.

In order to gain this experience I had to adopt a positive attitude, good work ethic and a willingness to get involved wherever I was needed. This held me in good stead because not only did I earn the trust of the children, but they fell in love with me. That gave me even more courage to familiarise myself with their taste buds and learn how to make their favourite dish, rice and beans!

One of the best things that I was introduced to at Colt was Yoga. The philosophy and Hatha Yoga helped so much to have a better understanding and to get through the day. Therefore I find myself more centred now than before. Colt started to feel like my second home and I started to feel more balanced – when I cook I cook with love, and whatever I’m doing I do it wholeheartedly. With the guidance of my 2 mentors from back in 2017 I learnt to use a diary and prepare for the next day.

Over the years I realised that I’m not at Colt by coincidence, but because God wanted me here at this time. With good guidance from the right people I’ve grown and gained so much confidence over the past 4 years. Now I’m a teacher’s assistant and working more closely with the children so that I continue to grow and learn every day.”

This is the last of the four staff interviews that form part of our Birthday Campaign. We have enjoyed sharing their stories with you! Our children need them –Help us and Donate  now http://colt.org.za/birthday-campaign/

http://colt.org.za/donate/

To receive the zoom link for the cooking demo please send your proof of payment to coltfundraising@gmail.com

Siyasanga Tyiba, a graduate from the Chrysalis Academy joined the COLT team in November 2019. Her 3-month BRAVO training included Child Care and she is currently working as a class assistant under the guidance of Teacher Nushfeekah in Daisy Class. This placement is currently funded by the Expanded Public Works Program.

Siya, as she is known at school quickly earned the trust of the children and the ethos of COLT is reflected in her day to day work at the Educare. Siyasanga wishes to share the rest of her story by way of the pictures below!

This is the third of four staff interviews that form part of our Birthday Campaign – Help our children and Donate now http://colt.org.za/birthday-campaign/

Snack time at COLT

Spring Festival in Daisy class and

Creating a mandala – staff Yoga day

                

Making and tasting beetroot juice and

Vitamin syrup in the morning                      

    

 

 

Our Educare driver, Asim Rahman started working at COLT in 2019. At first he used his own car for transporting the children and parents. He says that initially he was concerned about personal safety issues, but as his good reputation in the communities grew so did his confidence. Asim found it hard work to discipline the children in the car, to make sure that they remained safe and did not open doors or windows. He was worried about them and in the colder weather would wipe runny noses and make sure that the car heater was on. With more children being enrolled at COLT in 2020 he had to make 2 trips which was problematic and stressful. Now that the Educare has a school bus Asim says he is much more relaxed and can just concentrate on being on the road.

During Covid-19 hard lockdown Asim helped pack and distribute food parcels of fresh produce and hot prepared meals to the COLT communities. He says; “We did a great job helping the communities, it was an honour to be involved.”

When he visits the communities during school holidays he sees the children playing in the dirt without supervision and looking hungry. When school term opens again the children are shining, excited and happy to be back at school. Looking to the future Asim says; “COLT is giving these children a solid foundation, if only a small number study further for a degree it is worth the effort. Only with education and manners will their circumstance improve. A parent shouldn’t see a child being born into a dirty shack.”

The children and teachers at COLT wish to continue sharing their stories with you and one way that you can help us is to ‘Sponsor a Child’  http://colt.org.za/donate/

During August and September teacher Nushfeekah, class assistants Juliet and Siyasanga, and COLT driver Asim will be sharing their stories. Today we briefly look back at some of the children’s stories that we have shared with you over the past 4 years.

JW who overcame her attention seeking behaviour and tantrums by slowly developing the capacities for relationships and self-regulation in the healing environment at COLT. She was awarded a full scholarship to Christel House.

MM who had poor physical co-ordination and speech on admission and by spending one on one time working with the earth in the garden his confidence grew and school became a ‘safe space’ for him. His despair when in 2020 lockdown kept him at home with his stepdad and new baby sibling.

DP who through his love of cooking at school we saw his independence emerge when in fantasy play he cooked and proudly shared his meals with teachers and the other children.

LJ who when his dad suggested he become a truck driver, said no he is going to be a pilot and fly aeroplanes.

KM who now attends school regularly, wears clean clothes and engages in all his activities as a result of an intervention support program developed for his abused mother by an intern Occupational Therapy Student from UCT who was working at COLT.

Two brothers 4 and 9 years old cared for by their dad who is out looking for work every day, staying in their shack alone not knowing when they would receive their next meal, bath or a decent night sleep.

The vision at COLT remains one of offering love and healing to vulnerable and traumatised children.

“The memory of a place where all is whole and complete remains with us all our lives”

-Julia Onken

Jou Ma Se Veggies has recently created a platform to simplify the process of donating fresh fruit and vegetables to Children of Light Educare. Fill your box according to your budget and delivery to the Educare is absolutely FREE! Most of their products are sourced directly from local farms so your donation is also supporting our local farmers!

Place your order through their website by clicking on this link https://www.joumaseveggies.com/e-commerce/children-of-light-educare 

Your kind support is greatly appreciated.

 

The children attending COLT receive regular healthy meals, snacks and fluids during the day. Teachers and class assistants start mealtimes with a prayer and ensure that the children are comfortable, relaxed and happy when they are eating.

Our appeal is for Food donations:

• Our favourite fruits are oranges, bananas and apples
• In a week we use a pocket of – tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, butternut
• Pantry goods used each week – 3 L milk, 2kg rice, 2kg speckled beans.

Please send a mail to info@colt.org.za for drop off information and other queries.

 

 

This month COLT children started swimming lessons at Stars Swimming School, just an 8 minute walk from the Educare. A number of our families live in a settlement which backs onto a canal where young children have drowned in the past. A ‘learn to swim’ and ‘water safety’ program could help to prevent our children drowning when near a body of water. Also, programs like this enhance the overall wellbeing and development of children.

Costs to COLT are – R3 400 per month which covers 4 lessons per month for each child.

Help us by sponsoring a child for as little as R179 per month for a period of 6 – 12 months. Follow the link for payment information and banking details http://colt.org.za/donate/ Kindly send an email to Devi Harker at info@colt.org.za notifying her of your offering.