Playschool finally gets own home
AFTER years of makeshift classrooms and shared community spaces, the Igxarha Creche has finally received its very own school premises just outside of Morgan’s Bay.
The playschool caters for non-paying underprivileged children, with the school run on the kind donations of the broader community.
The brand new 8mx20m building, consisting of two open-plan classrooms, a kitchen, storeroom, toilets, and a verandah was officially opened at a vibrant celebration in front of 100 guests on November 2.
Made possible by various sponsors around the world, the new building also boasts a large playground area where the children have access to swings, a seesaw and tyres.
“This has been an ongoing project for many, many years.
“We had little money so we built it by faith, our motto being, ‘we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us’ from Philippians 4:13(NKLV),” founder Sue Warren- Smith said.
The school, which was initially held in an army tent, was started in 1999 and moved around over the years until finally sharing the Igxarha Community Hall with the village.
The playschool’s previous premises also included a rondavel and an old boat house.
“We decided to build our school as we wanted to have the building just for the children and not to share it with the community,” Warren-Smith said.
From building materials to financial donations, various local and international sponsors including Builders Express EL, PG Glass, Morgan Bay Hotel, McLean Bible Church USA, and many other individuals came on board to make Igxarha creche a reality.
“The generosity of people has been amazing and we managed to carry on and complete the building.
“Many folk have come down on holiday and brought clothes, books and toys and we do not have all the names but their contributions have not gone unnoticed,” Warren-Smith said.
With a qualified principal and assistant teacher, the school has big plans to incorporate a training school on the premises in the future.
Currently teachers are in training with Khululeka Community Education Development Centre in Queenstown.
Ixgara Creche fundraiser Debbie Janse van Rensburg joined the school in 2015 and has worked with WarrenSmith to ensure the success of the creche. She is also completing her Khululeka Community Education Development Centre training.
The Department of Social Development has also come on board and provides one teacher’s salary, food for the children and classroom equipment.