A red-letter day for Siyabulela

Writer: Elaine Davie. Photographer: Taylum Meyer.

It was a day of singing and laughter, a day of small children with big eyes, a day to cut ribbons – and Open Sesame! On Wednesday 12 February, after 18 months in the making, two new classrooms, full of space and light were opened, turning the Siyabulela Early Learning Centre in Kleinmond into a full-scale pre-primary school with two Grade R classes.

The centre, which is run under the auspices of Kleinmond Child Welfare was launched in 2002 in two containers, with 35 children; now it accommodates 140 children from two-and-a-half to six years old in six classes. There are parallel groups for Afrikaans and isiXhosa-speaking children throughout, underlining the importance of mother tongue education at this early age.

Franca Tinner (Ambassador for the charity foundation, ‘For Smiling Children’), Alta van Wyk (Principal of Siyabulela) and Carl-Heinz Duisberg (Siyabulela’s patron) cut the ribbon at the opening of the two new Grade R classrooms.

The children from each class performed a song for the sponsors and guests attending the opening. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, all the children sang together.

Also at the opening was Theresa Els, Director of Kleinmond Child Welfare (KCW). Siyabulela is run under the auspices of KCW.

Click below to read more. (The full article can be found on page 19)