Soup Seva

Today was our annual soup seva in our three school communities. Children and adults each received a meal pack which contained a tub of hot vegetable soup, 4 slices of buttered bread and an orange. In past years all preparation and cooking was done by a team of volunteers in the school kitchen, but due to Covid-19 regulations we decided to ask volunteers to make their favourite vegetable soup at home and deliver it hot to the school in sealed tubs, where the meal packs were made up. This new process also meant that we were able to more than double the amount of meals that were provided, which on a typical cold and wet winters day in Cape Town spread some extra warmth.

Our courageous and dedicated staff

This month our courageous staff has been training hard in preparation for reopening our Educare. Protocols and procedures as set out by the Department of Social Development are being implemented and the necessary resources obtained.

Objectives of the training are to gain a thorough understanding of the Covid-19 virus which will help to alleviate fears and anxiety. During training sessions teachers have the time to reflect and discuss their fears about the adjustments that have to be made to the Educare daily program. It is important that each one of us feels well supported during this time of transition.

Mo’s barriers

The weekly community visits to deliver educational material and food parcels has given us a deeper understanding of how our children live. A large part of a teachers job is to remove barriers that prevent children from learning. Some of the barriers our children experience are hard to overcome.

*Mo who is 4.5 years old started at the Educare a year ago. He had poor physical co-ordination and did not respond to simple instructions. Teacher Devi spent one on one time with him in the garden where he worked in the earth with his hands and enjoyed the routine of tipping the kitchen scraps into the worm farm. His confidence grew and the garden soon became his ‘safe space’. By the end of 2019 he was used to the Educare daily program and participated in most of the physical activities. His speech had improved and he was holding a crayon with a mature grip.

In May when National Lockdown moved to level 4 and a permit was received to visit the communities nothing could have prepared Teacher Nushfeekah for the despair she saw in Mo’s eyes. He had lost weight, did not communicate at all nor did he smile like he used to. It was as if Nushfeekah was a stranger. Going to school had been his break away from a new stepdad and baby sibling at home. For the past 4 months he has had no ‘safe space’ to go to. Working in the earth again with his hands could help Mo work through those feelings. Channelling frustrations into something like gardening, sometimes called green care is a natural way to sort feelings out, to calm and decompress the mind.

* Not his real name.

Community assets

Children living in Flamingo Heights were very excited to show teacher Nushfeekah (left) their completed work yesterday. The two parents, who supervise the children while they work through the educational activities that have been planned for them, are committed to helping the children continue with their lessons during lock down.

Diego, who graduated at the end of 2019 was thrilled to see teacher Nushfeekah again and greeted her with an elbow tap! Behind him is his sister Mia who started at Children of Light this year. They live in Pook se Bos.

Sisanda from Pook se Bos is due to graduate at the end of this year. She holds one of a hundred muffins that were donated to our Covid-19 support project. These were delivered to our school communities together with the food and fresh produce that is regularly distributed.

 

Jaylene and Jeremy who live in Hadji Ebrahim informal settlement help to carry in the food that has been delivered to the community.

Teacher Nushfeekah shows Lameck the new worksheet that she has delivered for him to colour in.  The two mothers who supervise the educational activities in Hadji Ebrahim will help the children complete the work this week. Lameck is due to graduate at the end of this year.

 

 

 

 

Educare program stays on track

The first relief parcels for June were delivered to our three school communities today. Exciting new educational activities were included for the children. Teacher Nushfeekah creates the educational packs according to her original term planner, ensuring that the Educare program stays on track while we are in lock down. When Early Childhood Development Centres are allowed to reopen after lock down the children will bring their completed work back to school.

While packing the relief parcels at school staff take extra care by wearing protective gear and by practising physical distancing. When they are in the communities delivering the parcels they educate the families about the Covid-19 precautionary health practices.

If you wish to help with our Covid-19 support project you can drop off donations at the school every Tues 10h00 – 13h00. You do not have to get out of your car, just email info@colt.org.za to let Devi know what time you will deliver. More information about donations via Payfast and EFT can be found at http://colt.org.za/donate/

Wish list for Covid-19 support project

  • Disposable gloves
  • Disposable masks
  • Plastic aprons
  • 5L sanitiser 70-80%
  • Sanitiser spray bottles
  • Paper towels
  • Disinfectant wipes

Packed bags ready to be delivered to our children and families living in Hadji Ebrahim, Pook se Bos and Flamingo Crescent informal settlements.

 

 

 

Latest lock down news

This month, with the kind and generous support of our donors we have been able to deliver much needed food parcels and education packs to our children and their families. This assistance extends not only to our current families, but also to our past children and their families, twenty in total.

The children have missed being at school enormously during lock down! Two mothers in each community have offered to supervise the children while they work through the educational activities that Teacher Nushfeekah has organised for them. Bread, jam and juice are packed in for the moms to make a snack for the children while they work. In this way we aim to uplift and empower the parents in the three communities. After her visit on Tuesday Nushfeekah said that there is sense of accountability amongst the mothers now, because they are feeling well supported by the Educare staff.

Please see below how you can help us with our Covid-19 support project.

Wish list for Covid-19 support project

  • Disposable gloves
  • Disposable masks
  • Plastic aprons
  • 5L sanitiser 70-80%
  • Sanitiser spray bottles
  • Paper towels
  • Wet wipes

All donations can be dropped off at the school every Tues 10h00 – 13h00. You do not have to get out of your car, just email info@colt.org.za to let Devi know what time you will deliver.

Cash donations will be used to cover petrol for distribution of goods, and to buy food and cleaning products. Twice a month each family receives the following items @ R600:-

  • Milk x 4litres
  • Cake of soap x 2
  • Cake flour 2.5kg
  • Sugar 2.5kg
  • Mealie meal 2.5kg
  • Rice 2kg
  • Baked beans x 4 tins
  • Tea bags x 100
  • Lollipop sweets
  • Cooking oil x 2litres
  • Bag apples, bag of potatoes
  • Cabbage, butternut, gem squash
  • Bleach and dishwashing liquid
  • Ace instant porridge 1kg
  • Sugar beans

Please visit our Donate page http://colt.org.za/donate/ for donation options.

Teacher Nushfeekah, Asim and Juliet packing bags to deliver to our children and families living in Hadji Ebrahim, Pook se Bos and Flamingo Crescent informal settlements.

Keeping education alive at home

Kavita and Trisha (above) volunteered to make play dough for the children’s education packs which will be handed out next week. Each child will receive their own tub of colourful play dough!

Working with play dough improves fine motor skills and pre-writing skills. Rolling and moulding the dough has a calming and soothing effect on the child and encourages them to explore their imagination and creativity.

 

Covid-19 Support project

Last week when we visited the three communities where our children and their families live it became very clear that there was a dire need for food, detergent, masks and educational materials. We have committed to support our past and current children and their families, twenty in total. Christolene, who started at Children of Light when she was 3.5 years old graduated to Grade R at the end of 2019. Her mom was so proud and excited to show us a picture of her daughter dressed in her new school uniform.

Many individuals and organisations are assisting us with our Covid-19 Support project. We are most grateful for their kind and generous support.

Cape Town Hindu Seva Samaj are providing food parcels for our school families.

BAPS Cape Town provide 100 meals on a weekly basis to our families. They also offer support to our school driver who is collecting and distributing the meals to the three communities.

Through Verein-Ubuntu, Perone Nadja from Switzerland, and Jennifer Stephens provide food and hygiene parcels for our 20 families. Matchbox Africa is covering the costs for collection and distribution of these parcels.

Funds donated by Dharmic Samelan are being used to buy educational materials and winter clothes for our children. Two mothers in each community are co-ordinating the educational activities for the children. Their completed work will be collected by Teacher Nushfeekah when we visit the communities again next week.

 

 

Day 39

The National Lockdown is on day 39 today! Educare staff visited all three communities today to see the children and to arrange delivery of food parcels to the families. Parents said that there had been no testing for Covid-19 in their communities and their most urgent need was for educational materials for the children. The children run around freely and it is difficult for parents to keep them indoors.

Teacher Nushfeekah delivered a pack of creative materials to each child and is happy to report that the children are all well. Principal Mala Maitri will continue to monitor the needs of the families during the lockdown period and provide assistance where possible.

Support Appeal 2020

Harvest Festival at the end of the first term.

The Early Childhood Development Program that our Educare offers has had a positive influence on the children and their families. The program provides free quality integral education with health and welfare support for children and their families.

Currently our Educare is open 5 days per week from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Our goal is to increase contact time with the children and extend the school day which means that the teacher’s salary needs to be adjusted accordingly.

The teacher is the custodian, the mother to our children and the heart of the program. We have been very blessed to have appointed a committed Waldorf trained teacher who has shown sincerity, commitment and extended herself beyond the scope of her job functions for the benefits of the children. The children relate to her and mirror her qualities as she lives in their hearts and minds.

If you wish to be part of our Educare’s next big step please pledge your support.  A suggestion is a monthly donation of R250, R500 or R1000 per month for the next two years; May 2020 – April 2021 or an annual donation.

TOTAL AMOUNT REQUIRED over 24 months, plus 13th cheques – R143 000:

For all payment information and banking details follow the link http://colt.org.za/donate/

Please send an email to Devi Harker, info@colt.org.za notifying her of your offering.