A much-needed early childhood development centre was recently established in Jeugkamp, Humansdorp, to help parents in the community cut costs on transporting their children to day care centres in other areas.
Margaret Zietsman, who is the principal and one of three teachers at the newly established Jeugkamp Day Care Centre, said that the area previously did not have a day care centre and parents were struggling with transportation for their children to travel to day care centres in nearby areas.
“Our centre is currently the only day care centre in Jeugkamp. The establishment of the centre means that parents will not have to pay any transportation fees to get their children to day care centres in other areas and it will provide a safe space for children while their parents are at work,” said Zietsman.
The centre officially opened its doors earlier this month and currently operates day-care services at the local church, Voice of God Ministries.
“The fees at the centre are low because we are based in a poor community and we have a high unemployment rate,” said Zietsman.
Since the centre opened, they already have 10 children enrolled at the day care, aged between one and five.
Each day Zietsman, together with two of the teachers at the centre, Mauricia Prince and Christoline Bobanie, focus their classes on providing children with various learning skills and art activities.
In the future, Zietsman said they planned to establish a library for school children in the area.
