A total of 120 vulnerable children of Fisantekraal face a much brighter future with a new preschool underway in this disadvantaged community.
To raise funds for this project by LIV Cape Town, a Barnyard theatre full of feet tapped to the beat of Stings’ music this past Saturday.
The construction phase of the preschool has been completed and LIV Cape Town are now in the final stage of furnishing the school on the corner of Boabab Road and Ebony Street.
Rob and Niki Mason from Durbanvile, founders of LIV Cape Town in 2020, have lived in the UK, Singapore and Dubai, where they have been involved with various children’s charities on a part-time basis.
In 2016 they have met Tich and Joan Smith at their church in Dubai – some years after Tich have founded the mother organisation LIV, a nationwide group of non-profit organisations with operations in KZN, Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
Rob and Niki then heeded the Lord’s call to move their family to Cape Town in December 2016 to help establish LIV Cape Town.
“Over the next four years we did a variety of community projects.
“We’ve had the opportunity to serve underprivileged communities through initiatives such as a soup kitchen, a soccer and sports club and a primary school literacy group.
“These opportunities have arisen primarily within the Bloekombos and Wallacedene townships in Kraaifontein and have given us valuable insight into the extent of the challenges within these communities,” Niki says.
Purchase land
“It was whilst doing food relief work in Fisantekraal in 2020 during Covid-19 lockdown that a door opened for us to purchase a 7000m² plot of land in Fisantekraal.
“Whilst working in this community, it became apparent that there is a shortage in quality educare facilities.
“We felt God prompting us to respond to this need, and so we decided to build an early childhood development centre,” she says.
“Many people are eager to be involved in LIV Cape Town in some capacity and we’ve been approached by, amongst others, nurses, teachers, therapists, builders and sports coaches.
“We’ve built relationships with a number of local churches whom we look forward to partner with in the future.
“LIV Cape Town is also investing in relationships with organisations in the Western Cape with a similar vision.
“As we move forward, we’re convinced that the solution lies in the partnership between the church, government and business as has been successfully demonstrated with LIV Durban,” she says.
Jobs and skills training
They are now just waiting for supplies to furnish the preschool and erect playground equipment.
The landscaping of the school will also soon start.
“Our school will provide all-day care for 120 children from the under-resourced and fast-growing community of Fisantekraal and we have the option to expand our school at a later stage, which will double our reach,” she says.
The school will provide a total of 20 jobs and skills training to previously unemployed people in this community.
“With so many mouths to feed, we decided to turn a large part of our site into an organic fruit and vegetable garden to grow nutritious food.
“This will be a seventh classroom, a sensory wonderland, and we will incorporate gardening into our curriculum,” Niki says.
“Our carefully selected curricula presented in modern learning environments will give these children the best possible start in life. We will provide employment and skills development through our social enterprises, which will also create additional income streams for our school,” she says.
Social enterprises to create jobs, a training centre and a second school are planned for the second phase of the development.
Shared his dream
The fundraising show, a tribute to Sting titled “Shape of my Heart” was organised by a local physician, Dr Pierre Tredoux, in collaboration with others. He was also playing the drums in the show. More shows are to follow.
Tredoux heard in April last year about the work LIV Cape Town does in Fisantekraal, and decided to become involve. He shared his dream with friends and musicians to stage a show in aid of LIV Cape Town.
“We all have full schedules, but we all have talents and gifts to help in different and unique ways.
“I love playing the drums and now I could use this passion for a good purpose,” he says.
