Africa Foundation and andBeyond have been supporting Benguerra Primary School through the development of infrastructure, most recently building two classrooms, and adding guttering and water tanks to provide the school with water supply.
Importantly, the Oceans Without Borders C&C rangers are engaging with the school children to increase environmental awareness and create a sense of custodianship over the Bazaruto National Park and the diversity of endangered marine life that it is home to. As part of this engagement, the OWB programme is supporting the distribution of school bags to every child for the new academic year in 2024, which will contain stationery supplies, a solar rechargeable light to help each child with homework in the evenings.
Funding has been secured to cover the cost of the rucksacks and stationary kits. Additional funding is required to cover the cost of purchasing a solar light for each scholar.
Currently the creche has an enrolment of 51 children (28 boys and 23 girls), each child pays a fee of between R30 and R50, depending on their age. The children are looked after by 4 staff members (the supervisor, 2 teachers and a food handler). The staff receive a monthly stipend from the Department of Social Development. The creche is managed by a committee of 7 community members.
The infrastructure at Isihlangu Sempi Creche does not meet the requirements of the Department of Basic Education’s standards of a safe Early Childhood Development Center. Guidelines indicate that “there must be 1.5m² of indoor play space per child.” It is also indicated that meals should be prepared in a safe and hygienic environment. The creche is currently run in an old chicken coop that is divided into 3 rooms, a classroom, a kitchen and office space. The building structure is badly depreciated, it does not protect the children and teachers from weather elements, it leaks when it is raining, it gets extremely cold in winter and unbearably hot during summer. The creche does not have ablution facilities, staff members dig holes with a shovel at the back of the structure for children to relieve themselves.
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