Little Lambs Christian Daycare and Educare Centre, located in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, is a preschool that provides care, education, and meals to approximately 300 children. The organization employs certified educators and obtains meal ingredients from the nearby community. It has transformed lives, particularly for women, by empowering them to live better lives.
The Center’s Inception
Little Lambs was founded in 1995 by Marlena van der Walt and her husband. Marlena started by providing soup to the workers at Kronendal farm in Hout Bay. Gradually, the initiative transformed into a daycare where mothers would care for children while others were at work. The daycare began in a double garage with 16 children and portable toilets.
From a Garage to a Successful Early Childhood Development Center
Through the years, Little Lambs expanded to become one of the largest and most successful Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers in South Africa. It serves 300 children across 11 buildings and provides them with three daily nutritious meals.
Empowering Women
Marlena emphasizes that this achievement was a collective effort. The key to creating lasting change was empowering the women in the community and helping them become qualified teachers. The center also became a social place where women could learn domestic skills, sewing, and crafts.
The Enduring Legacy
The enduring legacy of Little Lambs is assisting women and receiving their invaluable help in return. The board members, principals, teachers, and major funders are all women, with continuous support from remarkable individuals and organizations like Kinderhilfe Kapstadt.
Managing the Institution
Today, Little Lambs is primarily managed by the women it employs, with some external funding and administrative tasks as exceptions. The SEEDS (Schooling, Education, Empowerment, Development, and Support) Trust, also established by the van der Walt family in 2015, oversees the management of Little Lambs.
A Bright Future
Little Lambs’ future looks bright. Recently retired headmistress Geraldine Daniels handed over the reins to the highly qualified Ethel Kubalasa. Ethel aims to lead with wisdom, truth, and vision, fostering growth in classrooms and inspiring positive change within the Little Lambs community. Roger Falls, general manager of SEEDS Trust, notes that Little Lambs is one of their most successful projects and expresses optimism about the institution’s future.
The Little Lambs Christian Daycare and Educare Centre is a remarkable institution that empowers women and transforms lives. It represents the remarkable synergy between different communities and promotes positive change. To offer support to Little Lambs, visit www.littlelambs.org.za or proceed directly to the donation page: https://www.givengain.com/cc/give-a-gift/.
