From shack to permanent structure

The children sang and danced with joy while the Grade RR and R children anxiously await the go-ahead to enter their new classrooms

The official handover of the completed building - (from left) Bella Marques, Reg Anthony, Ash Maharaj, Mrs Kunene, Elvin Venter and some of the excited little ones

Proud sponsors at the handover - (from left): Larissa Bell (representing Gary Bell), Craig Timms (representing Steve Corbett Architects), Principal Mrs Kunene, Elvin Venter (Grinaker-LTA), Reg Anthony (DICE), Lawrence Anthony (Thula Thula Private Game Reserve), Liz and Jeff McGregor (CSI Electrical), Mabona Mthimkulu (Thula Thula), Bella Marques (DICE) and Ash Maharaj (Grinaker-LTA)

The old little room that housed the kitchen and children on the left is proudly overshadowed by the new classrooms

Excitement ran high throughout the community of Buchanana as children anxiously awaited the arrival of sponsors to officially hand over their new classrooms. December 2009 saw the completion of the building project at Sabokwe Crèche which houses 110 orphaned and vulnerable children. This project was launched when Lawrence Anthony of Thula Thula Private Game Reserve approached the DICE (Do I Care Enough?) organisation to assist the Buchanana community with the building of a permanent structure for Sabokwe Crèche.

Sabokwe Crèche
This crèche came into being as the number of child-headed homes increased drastically. Children from child-headed homes attending Emodini Primary School across the road from the crèche would leave their young siblings at this little khaya where gogos would care for them. From four children it grew to 110 in less than a year and the crèche was established. The community of Buchanana rally wherever they can on a daily basis to provide food for these children who get one cooked meal a day. Community members assist the Principal with the care of the children to ensure their safekeeping and well-being.

Great response
DICE, sponsored and managed by the Zululand Observer, sent out an appeal and within less than a week a tremendous response was received. The response was so great that instead of extending and securing the present one room shack, three brand new classrooms were built. Grinaker-LTA Area Manager, Elvin Venter, pulled in all their resources and suppliers, provided labour and supervised the building of the new classrooms. Over and above Grinaker-LTA and DICE, the following all contributed greatly to this successful project which is worth close on R200 000: Gary Bell; Steve Corbett Architects; CSI Electrical; Africa Civil & Building Construction; DMV Engineers; SNA Lab; Scribante Concrete; Brikudu; Allvent Engineering cc; KZN Steel Windows & Door Frames; VJ Glass; Do It All Handyman, Zululand Observer, Thula Thula Private Game Reserve and Lodge Umfolozi 1721 SC (Scottish Freemasons). For your incredible generosity, we salute you!