Smart colourful decor and a warm welcoming ambience signified the milestone 10 year celebrations at the Growing Lilies Day care Boarding centre in Slovoville. In welcoming guests Principal Mavis Nemakhavhani on the day handed over reigns to Linda Dube, a colleague of hers who runs the Sinobubele day care centre in Durban deep to compere the fun filled programme. “We acknowledge the growth and path that we have undertaken thus far in servicing communities in Early Learning education.” Mentioned Dube.
It was heart-warming to see a young pupil gracing the stage to welcoming guests gracefully. And then more flawless entertainment from her fellow little stars reciting the Lord’s prayer, quoting scriptures, a display of traditional dance and brief celebratory recitations for the occasion. A picture slide recognition demonstration where they called out loud what they see, presented by teachers reminding us how it once felt to be on primary learning class.
Addressing the audience and colleagues from related fronts, Principal Mavis fondly called “Gogo” gave a heart-warming speech thanked the parents and guardians in the area to believing her in training their children over the years. She claimed that it is not an easy task to raise a child and not all easy to work with small children as hazards do occur and one needs to be always on the alert. “It has been a long journey of struggles and victories to achieve 10 years looking back when we started with only 3 kids, later achieving 14 beginning to visit the Zoo and taking further excursions and now we’re proudly at 72 and counting.” She enthused.
Growing Lilies is the Early childhood organisation that addresses a holistic development including social, emotional, physical and intellectual interventions on a child. The motivation came up when a mother bringing her child and left only to return after 3 days. As a result, Gogo Mavis then decided to launch a boarding centre. The day care has since acquired a few sponsors to help out with certain needs to compliment the running of the centre.
“At first, I was grateful to God seeing other crèches with lots of kids I realised that mine was going through a season, you will also attain to your season. We must always understand that everything happens in time.” She furher mentioned that “Growing Lilies is actually a boarding centre and registered as such, that makes it unique from many other ECD centres. I used to live with children throughout the week, from as far Mulbarton, whom their parents would only take home over weekends!”
In the fluently celebratory mood of the event, the highly spirited Teacher Badelisile Sibeko who also hails from Slovoville, tells that she has been with Growing Lilies Day care for the past 5 years. “In our 10year anniversary on behalf of the crèche, it’s been great working here, children are treated and trained well, with year plan of activities, excursions through to graduations, all is going well her at the centre!” And armed with superior skills and ECD qualifications, she relates that she had plied her trade with a number of ECD centres before arriving at Growing Lilies, where she’s comfortably settled.
“There’s lots of goodies during each a where children take part and enjoy activities with their parents and guardians. Any challenges are resolved through mutual understanding,” she reiterates. And in teaching young toddlers she knows the delicacy of their early foundation motor cognisance. She attributes the strength of occasion as the confirmation of progress that the day care makes and the constant upgrades they make that makes her and colleagues very happy.
Parents and guardians shared sentimental stories on how they were pleased having their children attending the day care, especially that their young kids were under good hands during their generation in Slovoville. It was truly meritorious to see the audience’s hearty ovation to the panel of teachers as they lined upfront to introducing themselves to guests.
The stunning event wrapped up with the cutting of the well decorated milestone cake, by Principal ‘Gogo’ Mavis, followed by sumptuous refreshments and hearty conversations with the Principal’s colleagues, her close circle and visitors.
Jerry Sokhupe
Soweto Sunrise News
