Creche gets container classrooms
By Tabisa Mntengwana
6 April 2009
ALONG with its Swedish partner, the city of Gävle, Buffalo City has officially opened two 12m containers to be used as classrooms to a crèche in Duncan Village.
Zamani Day Care Centre caters for over 300 children, who are accommodated in three shacks. The containers , donated by information technology company ELCP, were handed over last week.
The crèche opening was undertaken as part of the Buffalo City-Gävle partnership, which began in 2002 through the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). Sida helps with various projects focusing on youth activities, good governance, gender and disability, traffic safety, electricity management, and water management.
Other projects the two cities have worked on include the funding of customer care centres and disaster management services. According to a municipal report, the partnership between the two cities has also broadened the outlook in terms of social issues, culture and language.
The day at the crèche kicked off with an address by ELCB’s chief executive officer, Sibusiso Shezi. “We are committed to giving back to our communities and we are happy we have been here today,” he said.
Blankets, mattresses, a stove, a microwave, two fire extinguishers, stationery and tables and chairs were part of the handover. “This is done since we have heard that the school has survived two fires in the past, destroying three of the classrooms,” Shezi said.
Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku followed, saying: “The City is happy to bring smiles to the children and also to the parents … Even though the municipality’s core business has nothing to do with education, we support and encourage little children to be educated.”
Thanking the donors, Ncumisa Yoyo, the principal of Zamani Day Care Centre, said: “This is a remarkable experience to have two new classrooms and other resources which will help with the maintenance of the school … We promise that we will take care of the school and appreciate every effort you have made in giving our children a better life.”
Loyiso Poswayo, an early childhood development specialist in the Department of Education, said the new classrooms would also stop the need to cluster the children in the other rooms.
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