New awning and gates

Thanks to Fiona Ford, Bright Beginnings had a sun awning and new gates fitted this week.  The gates will certainly enhance the security of the children's care centre and prevent children from running into the road without an adult.

New awning and gates fitted this week

Graduation ceremony - Saturday 14 November 2015

Thandeka and her students are busy preparing for a ceremony which will celebrate the passing of 6 students from kindergarten to full time school.  If you are free to attend please let us know.

Black & Veatch choose Bright Beginnings for charity day

Ladies from the community help paint new kitchen at Bright Beginnings

Bright Beginnings received a generous donation from the American company, Black & Veatch as part of their Christmas in October charity day on Saturday 31 October 2015.

A new playground has been established at the back of the existing buildings and fencing, gates and a new jungle jim play equipment were donated.

Black & Veatch also supplied the paint and materials to paint what is hoped will become the new kitchen.  People from the local community came along and we supplied bin bags to help protect their clothes.

A local contractor supplied a Bobcat machine for the day, the ground was cleared and fence posts were drilled before volunteers set posts in concrete and erected the fence to keep the children safe.  A huge thank you to all the staff and their families who donated a day of their weekend  and worked tirelessly in the heat and dust to help accomplish this for Bright Beginnings.

For more photos, click on the link here.

Black and Veatch employees, their families and members of the local community help Bright Beginnings on 31 October 2015

The day finished with a thank you blessing led by the Bishop of the community.

The Jungle Jim erection team

Heritage Day - 24 September 2015

Bright Beginnings celebrate Heritage Day

Staff and the children dressed up in national costumes to celebrate Heritage Day.

Food was also prepared and everyone enjoyed celebrating this special day in the S. African calendar.

Donations received

New storage boxes for the kitchen

We received donations of some R8,000 last month (September 2015) which allowed us to buy the staff uniforms, repair the kitchen fridge, some medication for the children and storage boxes to keep foodstuffs safe and clean as well as buying goods for the kiosk for re-sale. Many many thanks to everyone who donated money.  If you are keen to do so, details of the Bright Beginnings bank account can be found by clicking on the link here.

Money is a constant concern as Thandeka and her team receive no income from parents (this is a resource for very poor families in Mamelodi), so until we receive regular funding from the Gauteng Province, we are very dependent on donations from supporters of Bright Beginnings.

Visit to another creche in Mamelodi

Another creche in Mamelodi which gets state funding

This creche in another part of Mamelodi (about 3 km from Bright Beginnings) has fulfilled all it's criteria and is now funded by the Gauteng province.

Having a regular income really makes a difference  and the team who went to visit this creche came away with lots of ideas for Bright Beginnings.   Let's make our creche even better!

If you know anyone who could sponsor buying another toilet block and sewing mattress covers, please get in touch.

New uniforms

Thandeka and her staff in their new uniforms

Thandeka has had a smart new uniform designed for her volunteer helpers.  It looks fab doesn't it?  Thandeka is keen for her volunteers to become qualified in an Early Childhood Development qualification as soon as funding permits it.

Generous donation by new bakery at the Shere Place, Graham Road

Certificate to the Le Coco C Food Purveyors

Thanks to a very generous donation from the Le Coco C Food Purveyors bakery at the new Shere Centre on Graham Road, the creche was able to enjoy some very enjoyable home made breads and rolls made by this prestigious bakery.

For further donations please see the 'How can you help' tab above.

Thandeka attends a Child Care course - July 2015

Fiona (helper) and Thandeka show off the course material

Thanks to the generosity of one of our readers, Thandeka has attended a Childcare Training Workshop which also included Health & Safety for Pre-Schools.

Already, Thandeka has new ideas for involving the under 2s in more activities.

Our next aim is to help the other volunteers at the creche upskill by attending the Workshop too.

Donations from Black & Veatch families

Many thanks again to B&V families who have generously donated clothes and toys to Bright Beginnings.  This boy loved the ride on horse!

Thandeka starts a kiosk to raise money

Thandeka outside her kiosk at the entrance to Bright Beginnings

Thandeka has set up a kiosk at the entrance to her creche to raise money for utility bills, such as water and electricity.  So far, she has found that top up payments for DSTV and mobile phone calls have been successful money earners.  Also cutomers have been keen on the cooked food - such as fried chip sandwiches and sales of Coca Cola have also helped meet the costs of water and electricity.

Well done Thandeka!

Did you know it was World Hunger Day yesterday

When we heard that Bright Beginnings was trying to manage on R800 ($80) a month for food (for 50 children/day), volunteers have been quick to dig deep and bought the children fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs and peanut butter to supplement their basic rice and tinned fish diet.  

Take the quiz on http://www.acfs.org.za/quiz.asp to see the surprising benefits of peanut butter.  Who  knew?!

It is hoped we can start a vegetable garden in the near future.

Black & Veatch Families donate books

Some of the books and magazines donated

Thanks so much to returning U.S. families who have donated enough books to Bright Beginnings to start a lending library for the children who use the facility for the after school club.  If anyone locally has any more - we would love to add them to their collection.


We have also heard that returning families are hoping to hold 'garage sales' of goods that cannot be taken back to the U.S. and hopefully funds will be forthcoming for the building works needed at Bright Beginnings such as a new toilet and a safer gate.

Thandeka and friends show us how to dance

Thandeka showed us how to dance Zulu style  - to the delight of the young children. With high volume drum accompaniment - the routine was exciting and drew the attention of several passersby!

Nal'ibali (Tell us a story!)

A group of volunteers have set up a weekly scheme to help the under 6s learn basic English.  Stories are also read to the children in isZulu under the Nal'ibali reading scheme (http://nalibali.org/ ).

The children particularly enjoy the fresh fruit snacks, singing and drawing!

The After School Club have not been forgotten and they are playing board games and puzzles to show them that learning English and maths can be fun too!