Students raise funds for poor Crèche

Students of the Free State School of Nursing have made it their responsibility to help uplift the Masakhane Crèche at Jantolo Hostel in Thabong.

The crèche, which caters for 60 underprivileged children, faces many challenges such as the lack of water, electricity and flushing toilets.

Project leader, Samantha Ramotsoela, said the lack of proper sanitation posed a great threat to children at the crèche as it makes them vulnerable to illnesses.

“At the crèche, the children sleep on the carpet as there are no mattresses. In winter, the teacher uses a paraffin stove to keep the children warm, exposing them to the hazardous fumes. The children do not have learning and playing items like stationery, toys and swings.

“We realise that, with all that these children still need,  this will be a long term project and any little contribution we can get, will add tremendously into making a difference in their lives. Our first priority will be to get sponsors from as many businesses as possible in the area. Our aim is not to get money from people who want to help, but for them to offer their services,” said Ramotsoela.

Ramotsoela said nurses that are part of the project have in the meantime contributed money from their own pockets to start up a soup kitchen for kids at the crèche.

“When we spoke with the principal she confirmed that some of these children come from very poor backgrounds. There are cases where no one is working at home; some of these children are being raised by their grandparents who already have five or six other children to take care of.  There is no productivity in the classroom as most of these children are both cold and hungry.”

“We have also bought colourful paints in order to make each classroom a little cheerful. On Saturdays, we plan to invite the children to help us with drawings on the walls of the classes and the outside walls. We believe that if the children are part of these activities, it would give them a sense of pride and teach them how to be self-confident,” she said.

The group is also raising funds by washing cars and selling food from Mondays to Fridays, between 08:00 and 16:00, at the crèche and the Bongani Hospital. This fund raising project will continue until the end of May.

“We are very grateful to the students for choosing us; we realise there are numerous other crèches in much worse circumstances. We have been struggling to apply for funds and due to the condition of the premises we were going to have the children stay home during the winter because we are afraid of them getting sick,” said the principal, Maria Ndlovu.

She said she and all of the teachers at the crèche will also participate in all the fund raising activities by the students.