RAISING VENDA: toys for education

Friends of Mutale’s involvement in the region is growing, as I have been approached by a provincial representative of the Department of Health & Social Development to secure educational toys for over 50 crèches in the area.  It is a challenge to rise to, but none too daunting as I trust that corporate sponsors can be secured and successful toy drives can be initiated in the UK and US. 

Throughout Venda, there is a dire need for children and educators alike to be provided with toys for educational and fun purposes, as the crèches in this region typically have up to 60 kids in one small room, with only the basics (paper, crayons, broken dolls, tyres) to play with.  Toys are instrumental in a child’s intellectual, emotional and social growth.  It is incredible to witness their immediate delight and the gleam in their eyes as Legos, stuffed animals and hula hoops are laid before them.  Their senses stimulated, the children are encouraged and eager to learn. 

The request from the Department of Health & Social Development was based upon Friends of Mutale’s model of a mobile toy library, in which I visited 4 crèches weekly with toys, books, music and art supplies.  Due to lack of funding the mobile toy library was furloughed, but it is anticipated that the toy drive will permanently provide the resources that are so vital to a child’s growth.

Efforts are underway to organize toy collection centers in the United States (Portland, Oregon and Grand Rapids, Michigan) and the United Kingdom.  Donations of the following items are being accepted:

• Dolls 
• Legos 
•  Large floor puzzles
• Wooden shape puzzles
• Balls
• Jump ropes
• Building blocks
• Paint brushes

Likewise, a box that is stocked specifically with educational toys for crèches can be purchased locally for R1590 (£150 or $230), through a South African charity.  The Faranani Trust specializes in training rural crèche educators.  Incidentally, Friends of Mutale will be sponsoring the crèche’s primary educator to attend training courses later this year.

 

If you have toys to send to a collection center, would like to donate money to buy a box of educational toys in South Africa or if you would be interested in facilitating a drive in your community, Friends of Mutale would like to hear from you!  Also, getting the toys to South Africa will be a creative challenge, securing options that will be cost effective and efficient through customs.  Connections are being sought with someone in the freight or airline industry.  If you have a lead that I should pursue for shipping, toys to donate or are interested in creating a collection center, please contact me via email:  vince@mehers.com

Footballs for Schools

This week and next is football delivering time….. 248 footballs to 14 primary schools and crèches.  Ten footballs to each and the rest in reserve for when they are needed again .The footballs were generously donated by share-holders of Pafuri Rivercamp, Lou and Les of White River, Mpumalanga. 

I’ve done an initial delivery to a couple of schools within the area; the footballs were gladly received at every school….warmly by the administrators and eagerly by the students.   It is gratifying to witness the delight that a gift of a few footballs brings; but, above all it has allowed me to become even more aware of what work needs to be done to uplift the area schools.  Delivering the footballs has provided me with an opportunity to visit a number of schools for the first time; schools that house a few classrooms for 100 or more students – with only a couple of employees who play the roles of principal, educator, janitor, cook and counselor.  All the more reinforcing the primary goal of 2011: securing a steady stream of volunteers to assist educators in the schools of Mutale. 

Visit Venda Volunteering to begin planning your visit to Venda.