She used her retirement savings to build an aftercare centre to help children from under-resourced schools learn, grow, and dream big. But now Mama Dolly’s centre faces closure due to a critical need for proper flushing toilets.
Nelspriut, South Africa (04 August 2025) – We’re all in this world to fulfil some kind of purpose. For Mama Dolly, it is to help children who attend under-resourced schools in rural Nelspruit learn to read, write and dream big at the PhathekaniKahle After Care.
Formally founded and built from the ground up using her retirement savings in 2015 by Mama Dolly, PhathekaniKahle After Care, a safe haven where children come after school to get the help they need through educational support and life skills.
PhathekaniKahle is where they come to catch up, to be seen, to be guided, and to be believed in – something that isn’t always available in their schools, where overcrowded classrooms and a lack of support have left many behind.
Good Things Guy connected with this remarkable community leader who shared about how and why she started PhathekaniKahle After Care.
“I started inviting children into my home to help them with schoolwork or understand things they missed in class. But when numbers grew, I knew I had to find a bigger space to accommodate them. After my retirement, I used what I had to build the aftercare centre. I had to do something because these children are our future doctors and leaders. If left to their own devices, they can easily go down the wrong path and end up victimising us,” Mama Dolly tells us.
The centre currently has 55 children enrolled, with more expected to join in the upcoming term. PhathekaniKahle After Care has become a vital resource for many parents who have pleaded that their children be admitted, as it helps keep them engaged after school and improves their academic performance.
But now, the PhathekaniKahle After Care faces a potentially devastating fate, closure due to improper toilets.
With heavy emotion in her voice, Mama Dolly explains that there are two pit toilets at the centre, one for boys and another for girls, but they pose a great danger to the children. As a result, the Health Department is threatening to shut down the school.
“Not knowing what else to do, I thought to myself, let me ask for help, maybe God will answer me.”
With the support and help of a dear friend, Alexa, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched to help raise money to build flushing toilets for these children and keep PhathekaniKahle After Care open for the many youth who rely on it.
To protect the vision of one brave woman and help keep this beacon of hope alive, donate to the BackaBuddy campaign here.
Sources: Nothando Mthembu | Mama Dolly
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