Umnqophiso Pre School, South Africa
In 2006 Turtle River began a 'Friendship Exchange' with Umnqophiso
(pronounced OOM-click-PEE-SO) Pre School in South Africa. This gives
Turtle River students the opportunity to learn about very different
cultures, while helping them become aware of how fortunate they are,
as well as the
importance of helping others. Through this 'Friendship
Exchange' Turtle River students can exchange artwork and pictures
with Umnqophiso students, and give books and learning materials to
help educate the South African children.
In 1997, a dedicated school teacher, Victoria Mangqwengqwe, started
the school in one of the poorest communities in South Africa,
Llwandle. Located close to Cape Town, Llwandle is a
destination for poor families from rural areas seeking work.
The reality is that employment is almost non-existent for these
unskilled and uneducated families. Umnqophiso school began
life housed in temporary corrugated shacks, and shared the space
with six church groups. Then in 2003 a permanent structure was
built with the help of parents and donations from European
countries. From the first year when Victoria herself was
responsible for eighty children, the school has grown to ninety
children with three teachers. The children came from
Xhosa-speaking families and are taught English at the school.
The South African government provides about $1 per school day per
child to operate the school. This creates a shortfall in
providing buildings, furnishings, educational material, teacher's
salaries and all other operational costs. Much of the
equipment and structure was acquired through donations, and
donations are also utilized for the day-to-day operation of the
school.
Even though parents at Umnqophiso may not be able to afford to send their children
to the school, they help with cleaning, upkeep and maintenance
of the school. Often the only square meal of the day the children
are able to get is at the school. The school is also used as a
community center where people can work to improve their lives and
their community.
With roots in South Africa, Turtle River's Stuttaford family helped
to start a charitable trust (CUF - Children of the Universe
Foundation) in South Africa to assist people who desperately want to
help themselves but are held back by poverty. In 2005,
they discovered the Umnqophiso school in the senior Stuttaford's
local community, and CUF became involved in assisting the school
financially.
In 2006, Turtle River collected and shipped
children’s books to the school, and in 2007, jewelry made at
the school was auctioned at Turtle River's Auction night and the proceeds
shared between Turtle River and Umnqophiso.
Umnqophiso used
these funds to buy playground equipment.
To learn more please go to
www.cuft.org
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