BRIDGET Phiri of Diepkloof in Soweto prides herself in creating jobs at her little crèche.
BRIDGET Phiri of Diepkloof in Soweto prides herself in creating jobs at her little crèche.
Phiri inherited The Little Baby Bear Day Care nursery school when her mother died and the neighbours asked her to keep it open.
"I was a caterer but had to switch professions to keep the crèche open. I went for an Early Childhood Development course so that I could develop the little minds in my care," Phiri said.
At first the mothers of the children helped her out. Then one by one they enrolled in ECD.
"The teachers are all parents who came to help out. I sent them to ECD and now they are full-time teachers. I have sent the last one to the course and I am left with six teachers at present."
Mama Angel delivered educational toys and drawing books to The Little Baby Bear Day Care because Phiri said they did not have enough material to keep the children stimulated.
The crèche is situated in the back-rooms of Phiri's family home. She has identified a site nearby and has applied to buy it from the Soweto town council.
"We need a bigger place so that we can implement what we have learned and what the social workers say we should do for the children," she said.
"But applying to the council takes a long time. We have 52 children. We used to get a government subsidy because some of the children are vulnerable children and orphans. We also do not discriminate against babies who are HIV positive.
"Unfortunately, this year our application was not granted because we used an old certified copy. We are going to apply again for next year," Phiri said.
The crèche serves three meals a day because some of the parents cannot afford to send their children to class with a lunch box.
Toys and books for Little Baby Bear
BRIDGET Phiri of Diepkloof in Soweto prides herself in creating jobs at her little crèche.
BRIDGET Phiri of Diepkloof in Soweto prides herself in creating jobs at her little crèche.
Phiri inherited The Little Baby Bear Day Care nursery school when her mother died and the neighbours asked her to keep it open.
"I was a caterer but had to switch professions to keep the crèche open. I went for an Early Childhood Development course so that I could develop the little minds in my care," Phiri said.
At first the mothers of the children helped her out. Then one by one they enrolled in ECD.
"The teachers are all parents who came to help out. I sent them to ECD and now they are full-time teachers. I have sent the last one to the course and I am left with six teachers at present."
Mama Angel delivered educational toys and drawing books to The Little Baby Bear Day Care because Phiri said they did not have enough material to keep the children stimulated.
The crèche is situated in the back-rooms of Phiri's family home. She has identified a site nearby and has applied to buy it from the Soweto town council.
"We need a bigger place so that we can implement what we have learned and what the social workers say we should do for the children," she said.
"But applying to the council takes a long time. We have 52 children. We used to get a government subsidy because some of the children are vulnerable children and orphans. We also do not discriminate against babies who are HIV positive.
"Unfortunately, this year our application was not granted because we used an old certified copy. We are going to apply again for next year," Phiri said.
The crèche serves three meals a day because some of the parents cannot afford to send their children to class with a lunch box.
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