Nuns’ Pre-school Benefits the Whole Community

A mission pre-school in North-West Province has grown rapidly, thanks to the actions of a nearby convent and a dedicated German, as CLAIRE?MATHIESON?reports.

Two years ago, the Missionaries of Christ took over the running of a kindergarten and crèche in the parish of St Paul’s in Taung, diocese of Kimberley.

According to Sr Nelly Iyese, a member of the congregation, Lesang Bana Early Learning Centre, based in St Paul’s mission, had been run by St Paul’s parish to cater for up to 50 children. But due to the close proximity to the sisters’ convent, it was decided that the Missionaries of Christ should take over the running.

Sr Iyese proudly calls the learning centre “the beauty of St Paul’s”. She believes it is the centre of attraction at the mission thanks to the excellent results they have seen in their early education programmes.

Since the sisters took over, the school has grown tremendously. The sisters wanted to focus on quality education but also wanted to ensure that the local community was welcomed and that children were not turned away.

“People started pouring in. They wanted their children to come to us,” Sr Iyese told The Southern Cross. “It’s a happy place to learn and the tuition fees are low for the facilities we have been able to offer.”

In fact, the school became so popular that within one year of the sisters running Lesang Bana, they had to source funds to expand the school in order to accommodate the growing intake.

“From October 2013, the Missionaries of Christ looked for funds and George Meyer, a volunteer from Germany, became the realisation of this project.”

Mr Meyer spent six months working “tirelessly, day and night, to have the new building erected and completed,” said Sr Iyese.

The German national had applied for six months of unpaid leave in order to accomplish the project.

“He really made great sacrifices because of the love he has for the community of Taung.”

As a result of the volunteer’s efforts, the learning centre today has six more classrooms and the old building was transformed into a crèche so that the sisters can offer care beyond school hours.

Sr Iyese said the project has been a blessing to the community.

A special Mass was held to honour Mr Meyer. Fr Olebogeng Sakhia then blessed the premises of the new building.

The community came together to give Mr Meyer a proper farewell and to thank him for his kindness. The crèche was officially opened at the end of April.

Sr Iyese said the community is proud of their newly enhanced school. Each classroom has furniture, basin and toilet facilities, and an administration office with a sickbay was built.

“We’re proud of what we have achieved,” Sr Iyese told The Southern Cross. The school welcomes all children, regardless of religious background. The crèche takes children from ages three months to two years old, and the pre-school takes from children in the 3-5 age group.

The school provides a healthy meal to all the children.

Sr Iyese said teaching children from an early age is vitally important. And it isn’t just basic education the children are given. Sr Iyese said the children are also taught responsibility.

From a young age, the children are allocated the duties of sweeping the floor, washing dishes and serving others.

“They are also taught social skills, and how to avoid violent communication in their relationships with each other. This is aimed at a better future for these children and to ensure they know what abuse is,” the nun said. “The children are taught to say no to abuse at all levels.”

Responsibility is also invested in the community.

“The centre is built for the community and therefore it is the responsibility of the entire community to maintain its beauty, to protect it and to use it fruitfully for the future of their children,” said Sr Iyese.

“Education is a basic need and we are here to ensure they get it.”