Building Futures launched in 2007 when we joined with a group from Hawaii to fund, build and equip a play center that provides early education, meals and after-school activities to children living in the 6,000-person Ufafa Valley of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Seventy-eight percent of the population is HIV-positive and 85% of the people are unemployed.
Building Futures' objectives are to provide opportunities for children, ages 3-5, to develop socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritually through four areas – fantasy, cognitive, creative and outdoor; and train leaders to run the center and have a good understanding of the needs of early learners.
Guiding Coalition member Sharon Dempsey (left) ran an "I CAN Make a Difference" campaign at UNC-Greensboro where one can filled with quarters -- about $125 -- will be used to train staff to take play experiences into the Valley communities where long distances between villages and harsh road conditions are challenges for reaching children. College students and others who filled cans turned in $1,400.
After opening in late 2009, the reports from Woza Moya are very encouraging. Woza Moya Director Sue Heddon writes about two teachers and two children:
"Thola (at left, in red) loves what she is doing. She has, of her own accord, established daily correspondence with the parents in her group through the notebook they keep in their bags, which Thola implemented. She has made charts and is making wonderful progress teaching number conservation. At times her approach is a little too structured and rigid, but in time, when she has learned other ways of facilitating such activities, she will make even greater progress.
"Ncami (left) is a born teacher. It saddens me that she does not have the opportunity to go to Teachers’ Training College, for she has a natural teaching ability. She loves the children and she has such a spontaneous, exciting approach to all she does. She also has a kind, compassionate nature which is essential in dealing with children of this age.
LUSANDA AND LUYANDA
"These little boys are non-identical twins and they do not speak – not to each other, not to the Leaders nor to the other children when engaging in play. For the most part they will stand on the sidelines watching the activities, and then when they are sure about what is happening, they will involve themselves in whatever the activity is. It is interesting that although they don’t speak, they enjoy school and try out everything that is on the go. They are very good at communicating their needs non-verbally.
Their non-speaking was clearly evident one day when we were playing soccer and they got into a tussle together, both wanting the ball at the same time. The boys wrestled the ball from one another and their faces showed their determination to win the battle, but they never uttered a single word or sound the whole time they were battling it out! This was in spite of the fact that they were the only two playing soccer!
"However, there has been definite progress in the latter part of this team, just last week I heard Lusanda (top, left) speak! I couldn’t believe it! This has given me so much encouragement – I hope that before the end of the next term, these boys will be engaging verbally in all the activities they so obviously love! If we can make that breakthrough we will again have wonderful evidence of the impact this positive environment is having on each and every child in our care. "
