Siyathuthuka Creche was founded in 2012 by Sindy Zulu a retired teacher, who recognized the desperate need for
children in the area to have access to pre-schooling in order to better prepare them for school. Siyathuthuka
translated to English means “We are developing”. Siyathuthuka Creche is the only Early Childhood Development (ECD) facility in the area, serving 2 communities of eSikwakwaneni and Magwenya areas in KwaMduku with a population of about 3600 of people. The creche currently has an enrolment of 41 children who are taken care of by 3 volunteers (Sindy and a further 2 educators). It also has an active creche committee made up of 7 members.
In South Africa, children from birth to four years old represent 10% of the population. Statistics SA report that only
37% of children 0-4 years attend an Early Childhood Development (ECD) facility, with the greatest access in urban
areas. The Department of Social Development oversees pre-school education in South Africa and provide guidelines and specification to be met in order for a crèche to be formally registered and receive financial support – an operational subsidy of approx. 15 Rand per child enrolled.