Our partner Pre-school, situated 40 km outside Pretoria, serves the rural community and the nearby traditional Ndebele village. The pre-school is the only one in the area and serves a growing community need. The facilities have been upgraded with the help of previous volunteers. All kind of teaching/tutoring support and further upgrading of the facility is welcome.

YOU will have the opportunity to assist in the local crèche with edu-care activities. The crèche was established in 2005 by Sibongile Mthimunye and originally accommodated 8 children, ages 2 to 6. The school was originally housed in a rented, old un-electrified cinema building with below-basic facilities. 

Sibongile now owns her own house and crèche thanks to the help of our volunteers!

 In 2006, Sibongile moved to her own 3-roomed house and ran her crèche from one of the rooms. The brightly painted school attracted the attention of the local community who enrolled more and more children.

The numbers swelled and soon the one room became too small for all the children. In 2007 Sibongile's dream came true and our volunteers built a 45 square metre room for her use.

The numbers have again swelled to around 19 children aged from a few months to 6 years.

YOU would be living within the community you volunteer in by staying in the nearby Ndebele Village. The village inhabitants still live in a traditional manner and practice their time-old customs, despite the influence of modernisation.

 The village is relatively un-commercialised and YOU will have the opportunity to immerse yourself and experience life from a unique perspective. For example, the village still practices initiation rites - your stay may coincide with such an event, in which you could experience this intimate ritual.

The houses and enclosures are painted with the colourful geometric patterns for which the Ndebele are famous, often incorporating modern aspects such as telephones and the SA flag.

YOU will be accommodated in the village Lodge in comfortable twin bed rooms and you will have the opportunity to sleep in the traditional huts as well. The Lodge is held in trust by the community and was built with funds after the community was forcibly removed under Apartheid. YOU may enjoy your meal either in the small conference centre/ restaurant or share it with a family in the traditional way.

During your stay YOU could learn the intricate art of Ndebele beading and assist with the ongoing traditional mural paintings. YOU may even ask the resident “witch doctor” or traditional healer to throw the bones and tell you what he sees in your future!

Your donation includedin the project fee will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the project. On your return home you may want to continue to support the project with on-going donations directly into the projects account.