Categories: News

Little Lambs Christian Daycare and Educare Centre: Empowering Women and Transforming Lives

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/.

Sizwe Dlamini

Recent Posts

Cape Town’s Transformative Toy Libraries: Revolutionizing Early Childhood Development

Cape Town's toy libraries are changing how young children learn by creating fun and exciting…

3 weeks ago

Celebrating Ombuds Day: The Unseen Pillars of Urban Governance

Ombuds Day is here, shining a light on the City Ombudsman, a key figure in…

3 weeks ago

Innovative Urban Water Management: Embracing Wastewater Package Plants

Wastewater package plants are small, smart facilities that help cities manage dirty water in a…

3 weeks ago

Confronting Illegal Mining in South Africa: A Complex Battle

South Africa is fighting against illegal mining with a strong team of police, soldiers, and…

4 weeks ago

Balancing Tradition and Safety: Cape Town’s Fireworks Policy

Cape Town is getting ready for exciting celebrations like Diwali and Guy Fawkes Night, but…

4 weeks ago

Transforming South Africa’s Tourism Landscape: Patricia de Lille’s First 100 Days

In her first 100 days as South Africa's Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille has…

4 weeks ago