Class assistant Siyasanga

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                      

    

 

 

COLT driver

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.”

First Aid

First Aid refresher training. Class assistant Siyasanga, teacher Nushfeekah and class assistant Juliet sat for their First Aid refresher training this weekend. We are in the process of registering with the department of social development and with increased criteria requirements we expect a further delay in our application. Our Birthday Campaign appeal will help Children of Light Educare remain open for another year until our application is successful.  Please visit our campaign post http://colt.org.za/birthday-campaign/ and help us raise R 170 000 to cover the cost of teacher’s salaries and transport for our children for the next 12 months. This means R 8 500 to sponsor one child for the year. Families and friends please group together and help us reach our target by October!

Teacher Nushfeekah

LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST: Teacher Nushfeekah speaks about her personal growth over the past few years, and shares how positive she feels about the potential she observes in the children at Children of Light Educare.

 

The interview with teacher Nushfeekah is the first of four staff interviews that form part of our Birthday Campaign – Help our children and donate now – http://colt.org.za/birthday-campaign/ 

Glad to be back

COLT children were so excited to be back when the Educare opened for the third term 2021. The healing routine of the Educare daily program makes them feel safe and happy, and keen to learn.

Teachers maintain a predictable and nurturing timetable which allows the children to relax and calmly get on with their activities. Priyanka visited today and took these photos that capture the heartfelt essence of the children’s expressions.

       

Birthday Campaign

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

Winter Holiday Program

Today was the third and final day of a very successful Colt Winter Holiday Program, our first holiday program which will certainly be repeated annually! It was heart – warming to see our children after a two week break and also our past graduates who were invited to join the program. There were 30 children and the theme for this July – Mandela Month 2021, seemed really significant to us ‘One hand can feed another’. Our grateful thanks to the Colt donors who provided and delivered the three daily packed meals for the children, teachers, facilitators and volunteers.

Each day included Yoga with Jennifer, Eurythmy with Khanya, Music with Lilavan, Art with Devi and Khanya and Storytelling with Lisa. There was a large soft play free play area inside the hall and also space outside for games and activities.

Lilavan showed us fun ways to use body percussion to make noise like wind, rain and thunder while still keeping a beat. In art the children were invited to explore through the mediums of crayons, wet on wet painting and clay work. Yoga and breathing exercises were kept upbeat through stories about animals and healing verse. In eurythmy the children were very quick to learn a sequence which was done in a circle and then another shorter one which was done with a partner. After lunchtime the children, teachers and volunteers would gather around Lisa for storytelling. We are deeply appreciative of the four outside facilitators who straight away warmed to the Colt community and introduced the children to so many amazing new experiences.