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Yomelelani Origins

From HouMoed to Yomelelani

Hou Moed

Following the end of apartheid in the 1990s, HouMoed Centre started life as a night shelter for the homeless on the disused Hermanus airfield site in Zwelihle township.  Theo DeMeyer, a retired hospital administration director, was the inspirational founder.

With much hard work on the dilapidated buildings by some older boys under Theo’s leadership, by 2000 the shelter had become a youth centre, providing activities and a meal for the children.  It was able to register as a Non Profit Organisation and obtain modest financial grants.

Hou Moed became a vibrant community centre, adding after-school development and recreational facilities and a games area. The original Yomelelani PreSchool and Care Centre project, on a small area of the site, was founded at a public meeting on September 19 2003, at the Zwelihle Library. The project was the cooperative vision of Ron Marchant, Henriette Oldhoff and Marilyn van der Velden, who approached Theo DeMeyer about the possibility of utilising the premises of HouMoed in the mornings and early afternoons for such a venture. In that same year, the Recycle Swop Shop (the project which “helps children help themselves through recycling”) was opened on the same premises. Soon after, Mr DeMeyer agreed to proceed with the project and the Night Shelter was closed.

When Theo retired, aged 80,  the centre was transferred to a national charity but was handed back to the Municipality in 2014.  The Yomelelani Pre-School had started to flourish, and was granted a lease from the municipality for the whole of the site and buildings.

Yomelelani Today

Yomelelani runs a pre-school and outreach with plans for the Hoe Moed centre in Yomelelani’s future.

At work in the library with Grade R

At work in the library with Grade R

Note the Lukhanyo Primary school uniforms - click here to … More >

Food Parcel Distribution

Food Parcel Distribution

With Yomelelani being the only source of food for most of … More >

Gallery

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About Yomelelani

Yomelelani is based on the Hou Moed site, focussed on supporting early childhood development in the western cape of South Africa.

Working closely with the community, municipality and partners like Aqunion, Yomelelani runs a pre-school & outreach and has an exciting future.

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