Nomsa is a passionate, driven and joyful woman living in the crime stricken neighbourhood of Delft where gang violence and abuse run rampant. Having grown up under difficult circumstances herself, Nomsa hopes that the story of how she started her educare will provide inspiration to young people who have faced similar challenges growing up. She believes that if you dream big and never give up, that you can achieve anything you set your mind to!

In 2015, Nomsa opened her preschool, Blessings Educare, with just 11 children. Today, she and her staff care for over 130 children every day. Blessings Educare is a beacon of hope to the children in Delft. Along with her preschool (prior to Covid-19), Nomsa runs an afterschool programme where youth find refuge until their parents would return home from work in the night.

We hope this message from Nomsa will inspire you to believe in the power of your dreams despite the difficult circumstances you may face.

Ikamva Labantu is proud to support Nomsa. Visit our donate page to assist Nomsa and other community heroes like her: https://ikamva.org.za/donate-now/za/, USA based donors: 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸https://ikamva.org.za/donate-now/us/.

“I joined Ikamva Labantu in March of 2018 as an assistant in the baby class and am now a teacher of the 4 months to 1-year-old class. I am a privileged individual and believe that I should use my privilege for good to assist people wherever possible.”

Jess was first exposed to the importance of Early Childhood Development (ECD) when she was a young girl. She suffered from various illnesses where she landed up in the hospital paralyzed on her right-hand side. She had to go to occupational therapy in order to regain functionality. She still knits and crochets until today to keep her hands active. It was through this experience from illness to recovery that she discovered the importance of sculpting, moulding and resilience of a young brain. She says that it is because of the various challenges she went through that she is a strong, emphatic person today.

Although her health experiences shaped a lot of who Jess is today, she says that community and ECD is ‘in her blood’. Her mother worked in Khayelitsha managing a centre for abused women. Her father is a medical doctor who serves the Department of Health. Her Makhulu (a word used for grandmother in isiXhosa) started teaching when she was merely 17 years old, she is now 91. And her aunty is an ECD teacher for the deaf and also served the Department of ECD.

Jessica-Marie studied her Level 5 ECD at the College of Cape Town in June 2014 and went on to work as a teacher in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. She returned to Cape Town and volunteered at the Nonceba Centre for abused women and children teaching maths to young children. In 2016 she started her degree and in 2018 she started volunteering at Kwakhanya Preschool (Ikamva Labantu’s model preschool in Khayelitsha) and says she loved every minute of it. Now she is a permanent part of our Ikamva team.

Jess did something selfless for her birthday this year!

Jess has been able to see first-hand how COVID-19 has affected Cape Town’s township communities. She says that many families are starving due to the lockdown and not being able to get to work. For her birthday she decided that she would ask her family and friends who are used to spoiling her at this time of the year, to donate instead to Ikamva Labantu’s COVID-19 relief efforts. She created a Facebook donation page where she managed to raise R2 800 and those that didn’t donate through this platform give directly to Ikamva. Her philosophy is that if you do have – you should give because as much as you give, you will receive!

Jessica-Marie, we love you and WE are very privileged to have you as part of the Ikamva team. You are a true IKAMVA HERO.

Mildred is the Programme Manager for Early Childhood Development (ECD) at Ikamva Labantu where it is her responsibility to ensure the smooth running of the ECD Department’s 4 programmes, namely: Registration Help Desk, Principals Training Programme, Practitioners Training Programme and Ikamva Labantu Model Preschool, Kwakhanya. During COVID-19, Mildred has been managing her team remotely as well as planning for and coordinating food distribution to unfunded ECD centres in Khayelitsha.

Mildred has been a valuable part of Ikamva Labantu team since January 2010. Her roots are in Zhombe, Zimbabwe where she was born and raised. Now she is a mom of 2 teenage daughters. She obtained her qualification in education and is currently studying towards her Early Childhood Development & Foundation Phase B. Ed degree.

“I do the work that I do because I love making a difference in people’s lives. The most rewarding part of the job is seeing some of the traumatised children we work with coming out of their shells and being carefree and happy in our Kwakhanya ECD centre. Also, trainees say that after receiving Ikamva Labantu training they feel they are ‘somebody’ in life.”

#MeetTheTeam
Thank you for the beautiful photo, Sydelle Willow Smith.

Ikamva Labantu celebrate’s our community-based staff, the heartbeat of our family. Each and every staff member has gone above and beyond during this uncertain season tossing away job titles and embracing the uncertainty it has to offer. We salute you, all our Ikamva heroes!

Thank you to Sydelle Willow Smith for the incredibly beautiful photographs featured in the video.

Humanitarian response and deliveries of essential items

Day 14 of lockdown in South Africa. Ikamva Labantu is addressing the unfolding humanitarian crisis that the young and the old in the townships are experiencing. Procurement of food in collaboration with local businesses has begun and a system of food distribution to participants of the Senior Citizens Programme and the Kwakhanya Model Preschool is successfully underway. Local taxi drivers are being employed for deliveries.

Our COVID-19 Emergency Response appeal is ongoing as we plan to expand our activities to reach more people in need. We are preparing to deliver fortified maize meal to over 7 000 children from next week. To contribute to these vital relief efforts, please make a donation by clicking this link: https://ikamva.org.za/donate-now/za/, USA donors :https://ikamva.org.za/donate-now/us/

A true Ikamva Labantu Hero!

Ikamva Labantu’s Human Resources Manager Xolisa Matoti, his family and the community in Ashton decided to address the hunger issue of the local children and surrounding impoverished farms. Xolisa’s team managed to distribute more than 300 sandwiches and when/how.  Well done, Xolisa, for representing the name of Ikamva Labantu so well. We are very proud of you all!

“The kids came in numbers. They were so excited and couldn’t wait to be served. It was fun and looking forward to serving our beloved communities again.”, says Xolisa.

We celebrate incredible supporters, like you!

Jay

Today we celebrate a couple of the supporters who extend unbound love to seniors and youth through their selfless actions. Jay, a friend of Ikamva Labantu, started a Facebook fundraising campaign to auction beautiful pieces of jewellery every week in honour of her deceased mother, a doctor of infectious diseases who designed and created each piece. She said that if her mom were still here today she would be on the frontline during this difficult time. Visit Jay’s Facebook page to see the upcoming pieces she will have on auction.

Maria

Maria Matseke is not only is she a mother of four, but works full-time for Ikamva. She has a deep love for South Africa and its people and started Ikamva’s social enterprise, Ikamva Design to bring income to senior citizens existing on meagre pensions. To assist Ikamva during this difficult time, Maria set up a GivenGain page, selected Ikamva Labantu as the beneficiary, and has raised over R51,000 to date. This money is being used to play a critical role in the work that is being done on the ground – making sure the Ikamva Labantu seniors and youth are kept fed and sanitized. Find out how to start your GivenGain page by emailing info@ikamva.co.za.

With love and gratitude,

The Ikamva Labantu team.