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Samekelokuhle Early Childhood Development Centre

When Daphne and I moved to The Cavern to help with their social responsibility programme in 2009, almost the first project we undertook was the building of the Samekelokuhle Early Development Centre. Two very enthusiastic ladies, Angel Thulile Sithole and Gabusile Maduna were running a little play group in a rondaval in the rural Busingatha area near the Royal Natal National Park and had requested help from the Carte families.

Continue reading Newsletter February 2019

Hi All,

After a long overseas trip to visit family and friends Daphne and I spent a busy few weeks at the Cavern holding jumble sales, delivering porridge and painting schools.

We then spent a very short time at home before Daphne hauled me off to Montagu to see the grandchildren.

We will be back at The Cavern in the New Year, hopefully to find lots more jumble waiting for us.

Read on to see what has been happening at the pre-schools:

Continue reading Newsletter October 2018

Hi All,

I can’t believe we are almost halfway through the year and Daphne and I are back for our second visit this year helping the Khanyisela Project’s 15 pre-schools. There is lots of Jumble to sort, mark and sell, school painting, book and toy libraries to organise and porridge, knitwear, toys and stationery to distribute.

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Read on to see what we have been up to:

Continue reading Newsletter June 2018

Hi All,

Daphne and I came to The Cavern at the beginning of the school year to visit the schools and assess their needs for the upcoming year. We also needed to be here to welcome two Belgian university students and introduce them to our schools and to work with Marysia Nash during her visit towards the end of March.

Read on for all the latest news.

Continue reading Newsletter April 2018

Hi All,

Daphne and I were at the Cavern from early in September for about 7 weeks. While there we were kept busy delivering of porridge, holding jumble sales, painting schools and liaising with the building contractor.

Read on to see what has been happening!!

Continue reading Newsletter November 2017

Hi All,

Daphne and I have been at the Cavern since early in May when we welcomed volunteers and donors from overseas. They kept us busy along with the delivering of porridge, holding jumble sales and arranging building and maintenance. Read on to see what everyone has been busy with!!

Continue reading Newsletter August 2017

The importance of Early Childhood Development

There have been many articles and much talk recently about the importance of early childhood development so we thought we would share some of this with you.

Global experts report that a child’s early years are critical to the rest of life. Proper nutrition and brain stimulation improve physical growth and learning ability, while the absence of proper care and feeding in the first 1,000 days (3 years) can lead to stunting, poor school performance and lower earnings as an adult.

Continue reading Newsletter June 2017

Hi All,

Daphne and I have just spent several weeks at the Cavern whilst working with the Khanyisela Project mentors and Belgian Early Childhood Development (ECD) students at the pre-schools.

We also held our normal jumble sales and delivered porridge, stationery and toys.

Continue reading Newsletter March 2017

Hi All,

Daphne and I are at The Cavern for a few weeks sourcing, buying and delivering toys, delivering porridge and showing potential donors the schools the project assists. We have had a very busy and fruitful time here. Read on to see what has been achieved over the last few months.

Continue reading Newsletter November 2016

Hi All,

Daphne and I have had a very busy and productive three weeks at the Cavern. Firstly we helped to prepare for the Big5Hike Royal Drakensberg Primary (RDP) school fundraiser, then we visited the pre-schools to assess their needs and bought educational toys, stationery and tables and chairs. Next we delivered the fortified porridge and then we had a very busy week with two ladies from Scotland who came for two weeks to mentor all our teachers. Read more about that later.

Continue reading Newsletter June 2016