SINGAKWENZA WASTE 2 TOYS

 

SINGAKWENZA TRAINING WORKSHOPS IN ZULULAND WITH 

THE MILIMANI EDUCATIONAL TRUST

Singakwenza trainers, Joseph and Vuyisile, facilitated the Waste 2 Toys training workshops in Zululand from 15 to 19 August 2022. This meant an 850 km round trip from Pietermartizburg.

This was motivated by the Milimani Educational Trust and funded by the Oldham family in the UK so that community caregivers could participate in the training.

The importance of the caregivers’ role in the lives of the young children that they influence daily was acknowledged and emphasised at the workshops, and caregivers have been encouraged to provide play opportunities for their children every day. 

They learnt how to make a number of educational toys from household packaging that is usually thrown away, discovering how many skills a child is developing while playing with the toys they made and how those skills will help the child in formal education.

A total of 60 delegates attended the 3 training workshops over 3 days.  They have 580 children in their care, be it at home or in their creches.

At the start of each training session, the delegates are given the opportunity to play.  They use a skipping rope made out of bread bags and take turns in skipping.  This is to remind them how much fun is had when playing and all the skills that one is learning at the same time such as gross motor skills, taking turns, sharing etc.  These photos really tell a wonderful story of participation and fun.

Building on the investment made by Milimani in 2020 during Covid for the Learn@Home boxes, many delegates had knowledge of the work that Singakwenza does and the educational activities that are made out of recycling.  

Tuesday 16^th August - Sovane with 21 delegates who have 440 children in their care.

It was wonderful to have a few delegates from WILDTRUST Somkanda Game Reserve attending as Singakwenza had run training for them in 2017.  

The rest of the delegates were from creches in the area.  Here are some comments from the delegates:

“Singakwenza brought joy and encouragement to the creche practitioners.”

“The fact that the activities cost nothing to make means it is affordable to anyone.”

“We can now create our own toys.”

Wednesday 17^th August - Maphambeni with 21 delegates who have 76 children in their care.

Most of the parents from Zihlakaniphele creche attended this training.  These are some of their comments:

“This program is meaningful as the government is having difficulty in funding ECD and we can make our own equipment from waste.”

“We enjoyed the hands-on, fun and practical activities.”

“The training accommodated everyone including the gogo’s and brought in teamwork and connected the community.”

Thursday 18^th August - KwaDla-Kuse with 18 delegates who have 64 children in their care.

A number of parents attended this training.  These are some of the  comments that were received after the training:

“We learnt new ways of behaving like being patient and understanding the children, especially when playing with them.”

“I am aware of how important it is for a child to play.”

“The importance of using waste to make learning equipment.”

 There was a unanimous call for Singakwenza to return again and run further training!

In order to maximise Milimani’s investment in the training, we need to follow up with the community to ensure that they start to implement the new knowledge they have learnt. The delegates only made one of each item at the workshop, but they will need a lot more to use in the classroom.  At the workshop, ideas were shared on how to get access to the recycling they need, such as asking local restaurants, B&Bs, schools, etc. to collect for them. Making toys can be quite time-consuming, so the delegates can also ask parents, gogos and the community to help them make more items.  

We hope to get funding for 2023 to hold future workshops that can make such a difference in the lives of these remote communities.

For more information please contact Lois from the Milimani Educational Trust at lois@kuhle.me

FROM A HUT TO THE HIGH COURT

 By Lois Kuhle – founder and trustee of the Milimani Educational Trust

KwaDla-Kuse, northern KwaZulu-Natal

"Getting involved in your community is one of the best ways to enjoy and enhance your life. Why sit at home when there's a whole world out there to immerse yourself in? Through volunteering and getting involved I've expanded the quality of my life in ways I never once thought possible" - Darian Dixon Snr.

Nombulelo Masango, known as Bule, 

always stood out for me as a special child.

We established The Milimani Educational Trust in 2001 and built the first community creche in KwaDla-Kuse, a deeply rural area in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Over 20 years ago Bule was among the first children who enrolled, and I immediately developed a bond with her.

We used to visit the creche with Milimani Lodge guests by crossing the Mkuze River, and Bule would always be there her little hand eagerly clasping mine. 

We frequently invited the village children to the lodge, and they would sing and dance with uninhibited enthusiasm to the delight of our guests.

We left the lodge when it was taken over by a land claim in 2005, but we continued with the Milimani Educational Trust, which has gone from strength to strength supporting three creches in the Sovane area. The Milimani Game Sanctuary & Lodge is now part of Somkhanda Community Game Reserve.

 

Bule as a young lady, visiting the creche

Bule was born in September 2000. She has five sisters and a brother. They were raised in this remote community, so small it is barely a dot on the map. KwaDla-Kuse is in an oxbow, hugged by the Mkuze River which either flows – or it doesn’t. 

It’s not an easy place to live with minimal infrastructure and limited access to water. They have only recently received electricity. The roads are poor and schools are a long distance away, especially for young people.

Rural children are expected to help with daily chores – collecting water, looking after livestock and helping around the kraal. It is not all fun and games.

 

Despite these rural hardships, education played a major role in the Masango family. Bule finished school at Kwa-Ziphethe Svananda Secondary School at KwaNongoma. The Milimani Educational Trust funded a course in Advanced Computer Literacy at Avuxeni Computer Academy KZN after she matriculated. Bule is now doing her Law Diploma through UNISA (University of South Africa) and I couldn’t be more proud. She is receiving funds through the National Financial Student Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

“I am hoping to have the power to make difference. I want to improve the legal system for people who cannot afford a lawyer. Some people wait for days for a government-appointed legal advisor and spend time in jail, even though they may be innocent.” Bule tells me. “I believe in justice. I want to help people, groups, organisations and companies to solve challenging problems and manage their legal issues.”

 

Bule is learning the necessary skills to become a powerful lawyer. Communicating, listening,writing, negotiation and time management. And that law education is about real cases that have been argued and judged in court.

Bule is committed to giving back to her community: “I want my friends in my community to realise that education is the key to success. You need to work hard and be passionate about what you do and what you want for your future. I will encourage students to continue their studies and I am willing to help them apply for university.”

 

Bule visits her family in KwaDla-Kuse during the school holidays and one day hopes to set up an internet café to help her community to have easier access to education.

We have watched Bule grow into an inspiring young lady and we know that she will make a difference in many lives.