Dedication from staff and continuous support from the community. This is what has been keeping the Kensington Educare Centre going for the past 80 years.
This year the centre, which is run by the Union of Jewish Women (UJW) Cape Town, celebrates its 80th anniversary.
Wendy Claasen, principal of the centre, says the educare started off as a soup kitchen in 1942.
Claasen says a few years later, the UJW saw the great need for an educare centre in the area.
The UJW is a non-profit organisation (NPO) that aims to offer skills training, fund educational programmes and establish crèches and nursery schools in disadvantaged areas.
Claasen says the centre currently has 60 children aged between two-and-half years to five years old.
“We have five teachers who are dedicated to what they do. Many of our parents who enrolled their kids with us also attended the educare years ago. We are really a family-based and a community-based school.”
Claasen says their aim is to equip their learners to be confident children and to have a variety of skills and abilities for when they enter school.
“Our vision for the next few years is to grow in capacity. We used to have 100 children in our care. And we want to continue to provide children with the best learning experience.”
Alan Hoffman, co-chair of the Kensington Educare Centre, says he believes the centre has been operating like a well-oiled machine thanks to the staff and management’s dedication.
Hoffman says while, as an organisation, they have endured many challenges over the years, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic was the worst.
“During Covid-19, the educare had to close its doors for a few months and staff who had been at the centre for many years had to be retrenched.”
Hoffman says they are grateful for the support from parents and the broader community.
“We rely on the support of the community and the parents to ensure that the school continues.”
According to Claasen, they kicked off their 80-year celebrations in March with a family day outing to Silverstream Resort on the West Coast.
Hoffman says to celebrate their 80th anniversary they will be having a winter carnival on Saturday 2 July at the Shawco Hall.
“We will have live entertainment from artist Ezra Lingeveldt, the Zip Zap Circus, Field Band and magicians can be expected. Kiddie rides and food stalls will also be available. The entry fee is R10. Proceedings will kick off from 10:00.”
