Yomelelani provides a positive and happy environment for pre-school children.

Currently some 20% of the school are orphans and the security given by attending classes with their friends, the welcoming smiles from the teachers and the educational encouragement gives the children a certain confidence.

With two meals each day, a secure area to play in and the knowledge that the same friends and activities will be waiting for them the next day, these are happy school children.

These pictures reveal the huge increase in hygiene afforded by the new toilets and soundproof walls.

However, the children have been puzzled by the ceilings. “What is a ceiling and why is it there?” they asked. There is no such word in the Xhosa language! All rooms in the township are covered by external roofs, not ceilings.

This is something new to them. Heat retention, dust reduction, acoustics have played no part in their lives to date.

More Photos

Nutrition is supplied twice a day at breakfast and at lunchtime.  This is the only food some two-thirds of the children eat each day, such is the poverty in the area. It is supplied at cost or less from one or two of the local supermarkets.

The new challenge will be the nursery opening soon after Easter 2016 which will require formula milk and nappies for the babies from 3 months and older. It will provide daycare for mothers who work as labourers on farms, local shops, restaurants etc.  They earn very little and many are employed as seasonal workers, frequently for only 4 months a year.

In November the art students from Northcliff House started painting a large mural on the garage wall.

Naturally the subjects reflected typical South African animals and typical flora found in the region.

Such a large white space was a wonderful opportunity to show their skills.  Yomelelani only had to buy the paint.

Below are some more photos of the mural being created

The sport of Karate was moved out of the building with the arrival of the previous tenant but has now returned.

The classes by the Xhosa speaking trainer had already reached 5 a week by early 2016.

The results of this activity have been quite remarkable with all applicants achieving their higher grading. It is hoped that the school will again start producing star pupils