Preschool for Our African Village
Donation protected
Our daughter and sister, Jennifer, is a Peace Corp Volunteer serving in South Africa. She has connected us to the leaders of her community, who are trying to start a preschool in the village. We are joining with the community to help raise money by spreading the word about their project. Please read below and consider donating to this great project. Shivambu Village, located in Limpopo Province, South Africa, is a very poor, rural village comprised of around 3000 people. The majority of households are headed by women. The people in this village are known as the Xongan people- speaking the Xitsonga language and practicing the Xitsonga culture. They are a strong, resilient, and hardworking people, who have much pride in their traditions and heritage. Shivambu Village is one greatly affected by poverty. Unemployment and lack of education or job opportunities is a big problem here. Also, the HIV epidemic is extremely prevalent, with approximately 22% of the population in Limpopo Province infected with HIV/AIDS. As such, the village has a high number of orphans and vulnerable children, who have lost one or both parents due to AIDS. Children often live in single parent households, child headed households, or live with a grandparent or other family member. 
Children in poverty face many challenges, and a large one involves access to early education. Shivambu Village currently has no preschool. This means that children begin primary school with no educational foundation- starting school without basic literacy and numeracy skills. This causes children to start school at a severe disadvantage, and sets them even farther behind. Usually starting primary school without any educational foundation causes them to struggle not just in primary school, but throughout their academic career. The dropout rate is extremely high, with children dropping out of school as early as primary school. Children are in need of an early start in the learning process, to begin building literacy skills, to both build competence and to get them excited about the learning process.
In 2013, members of Shivambu Village came together and identified the lack of a preschool as a major barrier to future school success for the children in the community. As such, they decided to create a preschool. Members of the community have donated their time and resources to build a structure that will act as a preschool. They used their own labour, and in-kind resources (such as donating water for the mud bricks, etc.) and built the structure for the preschool. They work to fundraise throughout the community, and since 2013, they have been able to raise 780.00 rand in donations. This is an ENORMOUS amount of money in such a poor community, and really shows people’s dedication and desire for a preschool. However without outside donations, progress is slow.
Their goal is to open their doors and begin holding daily preschool for the community children next year (2016). However, they have no resources- no furniture or equipment, no education resources, no books or educational toys, no swing set or outdoor play area. They also require funds to finish construction- they have no outhouse, no fence around the property, and no window. The Shivambu Preschool Executive Committee is therefore reaching out to you, and they are seeking donations to purchase these materials to make this preschool functional and educational for children in the community.
The desired outcome is to have a sustainable preschool that can provide education as well as a safe place to play during the day. The goal of which is to have children start primary school with basic literacy skills, numeracy skills, and social skills, to build a foundation for future learning in primary school.
Shivambu Preschool is headed by an Executive Committee, including 2 teachers, a principal, finance officer, and the ward councillor of the community. They are seeking donations to finish the work on the preschool so the doors can be opened for children next year. Any contributions will be sincerely appreciated, and go directly to funding the preschool. Please spread the word!Thank you!
Children in poverty face many challenges, and a large one involves access to early education. Shivambu Village currently has no preschool. This means that children begin primary school with no educational foundation- starting school without basic literacy and numeracy skills. This causes children to start school at a severe disadvantage, and sets them even farther behind. Usually starting primary school without any educational foundation causes them to struggle not just in primary school, but throughout their academic career. The dropout rate is extremely high, with children dropping out of school as early as primary school. Children are in need of an early start in the learning process, to begin building literacy skills, to both build competence and to get them excited about the learning process.
In 2013, members of Shivambu Village came together and identified the lack of a preschool as a major barrier to future school success for the children in the community. As such, they decided to create a preschool. Members of the community have donated their time and resources to build a structure that will act as a preschool. They used their own labour, and in-kind resources (such as donating water for the mud bricks, etc.) and built the structure for the preschool. They work to fundraise throughout the community, and since 2013, they have been able to raise 780.00 rand in donations. This is an ENORMOUS amount of money in such a poor community, and really shows people’s dedication and desire for a preschool. However without outside donations, progress is slow.
Their goal is to open their doors and begin holding daily preschool for the community children next year (2016). However, they have no resources- no furniture or equipment, no education resources, no books or educational toys, no swing set or outdoor play area. They also require funds to finish construction- they have no outhouse, no fence around the property, and no window. The Shivambu Preschool Executive Committee is therefore reaching out to you, and they are seeking donations to purchase these materials to make this preschool functional and educational for children in the community.
The desired outcome is to have a sustainable preschool that can provide education as well as a safe place to play during the day. The goal of which is to have children start primary school with basic literacy skills, numeracy skills, and social skills, to build a foundation for future learning in primary school.
Shivambu Preschool is headed by an Executive Committee, including 2 teachers, a principal, finance officer, and the ward councillor of the community. They are seeking donations to finish the work on the preschool so the doors can be opened for children next year. Any contributions will be sincerely appreciated, and go directly to funding the preschool. Please spread the word!Thank you!
Organizer
Lillian Vozzolo
Organizer
Glastonbury, CT