On what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday, a group of passionate South Africans came together to honour and assist a woman who is truly living Madiba’s legacy!
Marjorie Xoseka opened a Day Care centre called Impumelelo on the 29th March 2008 from inside her little shack. At the time there was no running water, sanitation, or electricity in the area but the incredible South African started the Day Care with 7 children and one dream in mind… to help these young future leaders get the right start in life.
Marjorie knew there was a need in the area and being the dedicated person she was, she wanted to do her utmost best! She plucked up the courage to ask if Gita Nicolatos, a mentor, could help her study further to achieve her Nursery School Teaching Diploma.
“She then started a course at Professional Child Care College, (a SETA recognised institute for child care) in Melville, Johannesburg on a part time basis. She passed every year with distinctions which showed us her commitment to her teaching career. She went on to obtain her Grade R Teaching Diploma with Honours.” – Gita Nicolatos.
The Centre started growing slowly and Marjorie needed to employ more staff to meet with the needs of the children. Firstly she needed to make sure the children were well fed and looked after so she employed a cook who went on nutrition courses to ensure the wellbeing of the children then of course she needed more teachers to cope with the growing number of children and employed people from Kanana Park thus creating employment in the area.
The teachers were also sent on courses applicable to the age group that they were responsible for.
More buildings had to be erected as well as a new kitchen and this was all done on the little site where Marjorie lived!
“There was great excitement now as slowly Impumelelo Day Care Centre was being recognised for the wonderful education facility it had and was becoming. The classrooms were well outfitted with educational equipment donated by our friends and family. The children lacked for nothing except space as they were very cramped in the little room they had.”
Eventually with the help of JAM (Joint Assist Management), the Housing Department allocated a site of 2200 sq. m. This beautiful site was now fenced off and besides the original containers that they had moved, the new Day Care had added four 9 x 7 meter classrooms, a teachers toilet and basin (which were now connected and working), a large office unit with a sick bay and fully equipped first aid kit, extra boys and girls toilets and wash basins (all the toilets were now connected and so was the running water for the basins), a large kitchen with a gas burning boiling table and a scullery containing working sinks with running water, a storeroom, and a two roomed shack for the security guard.
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The garden was also cultivated and filled with exciting equipment including a large 4m x 4m sandpit, jungle gyms, trampolines, swings, scooters, netball posts, and tennis net. A place where kids can be kids and not worry about the hard life behind the fenced off gates of the beautiful day care.
At present, just 10 years after it’s inception… Impumelelo looks after, feeds and educates over 200 children between the ages of 3 months and 6 years every single day.
There are two babies’ rooms with bunk beds accommodating 10 babies on each level as well as feeding chairs and play equipment suitable for that age group. These babies also have a fenced off playground with jungle gyms suited to their age group. Both teachers in the baby’s classrooms have attended Professional Child Care College and completed the appropriate courses.
There is a classroom for each of the age groups now and there is plenty of space.
Each classroom is equipped with learning aids appropriate for the age group as well as mattresses and blankets, tables and chairs. All the teachers have been on training courses arranged by St Stithians College.
“Our achievements are many over the years as can be seen from our success story. Marjorie follows up on learners that have moved on and she only has wonderful feedback from the parents. The graduates from Impumelelo Day Care Centre have proven themselves by being in the top 10% of the secondary school classes which goes to show that a good grounding is essential in their development. I am sure that this is why our beautiful Educare Centre is in such great demand in the area. It is so named because it is not only a day care but also an educational centre for young children” – Gita explains.
On the 18 July, the Bothongo Group, The Baron Group (011 JHB), Darren Scott, Mix FM, Wingz of Change and Good Things Guy all came together to celebrate Marjorie and give the children of Impumelelo a day of fun at The Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve in Johannesburg.
The organiser and Chairman of the Bothongo Group’s life story is a testament to the power of thinking bigger as well… of knowing that starting small never means staying small, of defining our own narrative, and never accepting the limitations imposed by others!
By thinking bigger, the Bothongo Group is able to grow businesses, people and communities. It’s a philosophy that has inspired the Bothongo Group journey, and a philosophy that can inspire others too.
“Think bigger. That’s a challenge we make every day to ourselves.”
On the 18th July, 5 coaches arrived at the school with volunteers from the company to pick up the 267 children and their teachers to be bussed all the way to Gauteng’s premier nature reserve.
There was a host of activities on the day for the children, teachers, volunteers, invited guest, celebrities, media and influencers – full lunches, refreshments, face painters, balloon artists, sweet treats, cup-cake decorating, soccer ball gifts, lucky packets and other goodies.
But for the first time ever, these children and their teachers who tugged at all our heart-strings also got to experience real game drives, they visited the animal ambassador interaction program, witnessed live snake shows and got to visit all the beautiful animals on the reserve.
And as the sun set on a magical day, a cheque of R20 000 was handed over by the Bothongo Group and Good Things Guy to give Marjorie a little assistance in the next coming months.
Nelson Mandela said that it is in our hands now and the truth is, it’s people like Marjorie who are using their hands to pass on Madiba’s legacy to the next generation!
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