Shoprite : Upgraded creches a boon for Worcester community

- Lunga Schoeman, Shoprite's CSI spokesperson

Charmaine Louw, a principal at one of the schools, is a former supermarket employee. She re-educated herself and founded Heavenly Toddlers in 2005 in a zinc structure attached to her house in Avian Park.

Over the years the one-roomed structure became increasingly dilapidated, but Charmaine couldn't afford to close her school because the need for childcare in Avian Park is so great.

Today, with support from Shoprite, Charmaine's heavenly toddlers are being cared for in a brand new building equipped with much-needed educational materials. The children are also guaranteed a nutritious daily meal from the Lunchbox Fund whilst Charmaine and her teaching assistants will receive some valuable training.

Mother of Many, two streets away from Heavenly Toddlers, sports a new mural and renovated classrooms. Just like at Heavenly Toddlers, the learners at this school are also receiving daily meals from the Lunchbox Fund whilst principal Ursula Williams and her assistants have been enrolled for teacher and governance training.

Khanyisa Educare Centre, a creche in the Zweletemba township on the other side of Worcester, received a facelift when the building was painted inside and out, and a beautiful mural now adorns one of the walls. Each classroom was fitted with child-friendly toilets and a food garden - to supplement the school's existing feeding programme - is in the pipeline.

At Bollieland, a creche near the centre of the town, teacher training will also be rolled out in the coming weeks.

Shoprite's implementation partner, the Centre for Early Childhood Development (CECD), has more than 30 years' experience and is therefore well-versed in offering support to these schools.