Droogfontein Solar Power donated new container classrooms and ablution facilities to Mickey’s Daycare Centre in Riverton.
DROOGFONTEIN Solar Power’s socio-economic development programme donated new container classrooms to Mickey’s Daycare Centre in Riverton.
The donation will allow the ECD centre to care for more children from the local community thanks to the container that can cater for two extra classrooms.
Prior to the donation, the centre could only cater for 18 to 20 children.
The donation also included educational materials and furniture for the classrooms, as well as extra ablution facilities.
According to Droogfontein, the ECD centre, which is the only one in the community, has been part of its beneficiary programme since 2016.
It has previously received regular groceries and a stipend for a period of six months, as well as a fully-equipped playground, in addition to classroom furniture and educational resources.
Mickey’s Daycare Centre has been lauded for playing an important role in providing educational and developmental support for children between the ages of three and six years from the community of Riverton.
Following a recommendation by the Department of Social Development, the centre has been upgraded and has doubled its capacity, welcoming many more children.
The additional facilities have added an extra two classrooms, making it possible for a further 40 children from this outlying community to have access to education.
The centre will also meet the necessary health and safety regulations as an additional four toilets were installed.
The principal of Mickey’s Daycare, Vanessa Setlhabi, said the centre has also been able to provide local employment since its opening in 2016.
“Which is much needed in our local community,” she noted.
“We believe that our children’s access to early childhood development is the best way of introducing them to a learning environment and preparing them for school,” said Setlhabi.
The economic development specialist for Droogfontein Solar Power, Zuki Ndlela, explained that one of their primary development objectives is to support equal access to quality education for children from the age of three.
“Which is why a comprehensive assessment of all ECD centres within a 50km radius of our plant, comprising our beneficiary communities, has been undertaken. This assessment will guide and support our initiatives, ensuring that we can effectively support ECD development,” said Ndlela.
