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"Cheeky Cheetahs" Day Care centre opening

A dream came true- opening of the Cheeky Cheetah Day Care centre

It is with great excitement and enthusiasm that we would like to let you know that we officially opened the Cheeky Cheetah Day Care centre on the 7th of January 2008.

After much deliberation and planning, quotations, builders and hope, we have finally tied down our current and future plans for the day care centre.

At first we were very excited to immediately start building, planning and expanding our project into a more permanent structure that would be more functional. Unfortunately, even though we still do have all these aspirations, our donated money was not enough to fulfill these possibilities straight away.

Temporarily we have decided to open officially for 5 days a week. 9 – 13:30 every day. We have employed a day care manager called Mara Kuhn. She has an educational and pre school background and also happens to come from a nearby farm in our area.

Speaking Afrikaans and having a good idea of the shortcomings, needs and ideas of our people she seemed a good choice for the program.

Our funds have been applied as follows up to date:

We have paid for the 2 teachers, Alida Gaseb and Seppie Swanepoel that had worked on the project since 1 of August 2007.
We have purchased cleaning material, things like drums, toilet paper, soap, foam bath, toothpaste / brushes, etc.
We have bought food.
We have bought a T.V., power cords, pinboards, posters, educational equipment, plates, cups, hooks, a broom, mop, computer, printer, cd player, and other items needed for the program to run effectively.

Needs list:

Money. Unfortunately one can do nothing without this commodity. Finishing the building would be a major priority for 2008 and I pray that it will be possible!!
Once the building is finished there will be 4 – 6 bedrooms available for volunteers to assist on the programme every month. We will keep you updated the minute this is in place. So teacher if you are out there, have some money to spend on traveling and a programme like this contact us to put your name down if you feel up to a roaring adventure!

Action plan for 2008:

After receiving several quotations it seems that we need about another N$200 000.00 to be able to finish the building and renovating for proper classrooms and activity areas. We still want to build new staff quarters and renovate the old staff house as it still seems the most affordable and effective way to do it.
The minute we have these finances sorted we will start building. At the moment we have N$210 000.00 available. The main expense for the immediate future would be salary and running cost like food, cleaning material, etc. Finishing the building project costs around N$400 – 450 000.00. About N$150 000.00 more than our original sums last year. It seems the most expensive part is getting building material here which amounted to around N$13 000.00 per trip of which we need around 4 trips.

We have also ordered benches and tables for the children that will arrive within the next month. Our current benches has helped us so far but unfortunately they are rather uncomfortable and impractical. The kids are also in desperate needs of shoes, especially underwear!, shorts and blankets which we will purchase over the next month.

Sponsors for children wanted

We would also like to further the work here by helping the children in day care during the year of 2008 to find placing in surrounding schools for the next calendar year and help assure they can adapt in these schools. We would also like to find donators to sponsor these children’s individual school, clothing, food and hostel fees which we have worked out to around N$2000.00 per child. This includes year fees for both school and hostel, 2 full uniforms, a blanket and pillow, suitcase and 2 informal wear sets of clothes and a food parcel on returning to school every semester.

We are also proud to announce that we are on the last leg of finalizing the trust and will announce board members, running details and funds in our next newsletter.

Furthermore we have established a day program which functions as follows:

On arrival the children receive breakfast every morning. This varies between maizemeal, oats and bread.
Immediately after the meal the children hop into the shower where they receive a good shower, are taught proper hygiene through tooth care, toilet care and bathroom manners. After their shower, moisturised and being sparkling clean they receive clean clothes. These clothes are the complements of several guests and volunteers over the last year. We must also thank De Helpende Hand for the towels and washing machine donated for the project. Having this we ensure the kids stay clean, healthy and have a good chance to stay germ, disease and care free. They thoroughly enjoy the water and we literally have to remove them to get them out of there!!
They are kept busy by various educational and animal videos during this time. The TV was again bought through the finances of our Clabile Trust / St. Teresa’s School in England and the video machine is a donation from Ziekenhuis Lievensberg.
Hereafter the children start to work on some school readiness skills. Colouring in, drawing, painting, crafts, counting, abc, health care, hygiene care, social skills, etc. This keeps them busy up to play time. Again the various things to achieve this had been donated by several guests and volunteers over the last year and is now of great use and enjoyment.
After play time the children receive lunch. Lunch consist of various food sources like fruit, vegetables, meat and carbohydrates. We try to supply them with basic nutrition that they do not receive at home.
Hereafter some pictures for the volunteers, a cookie, cooldrink or small sweetie to say thank you for a good day and send them off home with a good storybook.
Afternoons are spend by Mara washing dishes, clothes, cleaning up, planning for the next day, some admin and helping kids who require additional attention.
We also make special care for sick, injured or problem children. With donations from several volunteers including Nina and Ramah.

Throughout the last few years we have noticed an increased interest in the project especially through visiting volunteers. It has been a great blessing. It seems that God has sent people from all over the world to bless these children with their time, money, gifts and enthusiasm.

Donators so far were:

Our major and most awesome sponsor who prefers his name to remain private.
The Clabile trust / St. Teresa’s School England which was brought to us through a volunteer and friend Melissa Joy. They have donated a large amount of money for a TV, Computer and Printer, World Map (which we are still working on) and several other items.

"De Helpende hand", represented by Bas and Monique Doorduin, which are also 2 volunteers and friends, donating money, a washing machine, games, educational material and towels.
A video player was donated by Ziekenhuis Lievensberg.
Then we would also like to thank Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, their children and past nanny Robin who donated several amazing books, educational material, games, etc. Their donation was actually one of the first we ever received!
Last but not by far least we would like to thank all the volunteers who over the last years have given pens, pencils, crayons, paint, clothes, paper, toys, etc. Without this we would have much more expenses, less to start with and great ideas.

THANK YOU everyone your input, care and kindness had touched us and these children. We hope that they will be able to see from these unconditional gifts the joy they bring and the hope for their future that lies in it.