Our last post was in January when things were looking very bleak for the Komati-care Centre and our container school project.
The Komati-Care Centre is open again for a reduced number of children. The Centre is observing all the Covid rules on PPE etc. This is fantastic news and the Esperado friends are still providing funds to feed the children.
Our other project the Container school has not been so lucky. 2019 our first year was a tremendous success and we finished the year on a high. Then came the Covid pandemic and the school and the Care-Centre had to close. Because of travel restrictions it was not easy for Marietjie to visit the site. One night the container classroom was broken into, damaged and stripped of everything. A huge disappointment for Marietjie and Jan who had organised the whole project. The container has now been moved into the Care -Centre grounds. This was paid for by a local resident and money for repairs has been provided by the Komati-Care committee. The container will now become a store room.
Marietjie has located nine of our 2019 class and has enrolled them into a local English speaking primary school. It will be an expensive enterprise but we have to give these kids a chance. They are the children of illegal parents, virtually stateless and unable to access a State education. Can you imagine how that would go down in our country!
Marietjie has worked tirelessly to enable at least some of the kids to continue their education. It would be fantastic if we could get sponsorship for more children but it is costing 1,400 Rand a month ( about £70 at the present exchange rate) for each pupil. Marietjie is also approaching another charity for help in educating the children.
The nine children started at the new school this morning, 14th April and were super excited.
