Sandra Lucas
Sandra Lucas is an exceptionally gifted teacher, whose resilient nature and hopeful intentions, along with the help from some caring individuals, have enabled her to realise her dreams.
Sandra, principal of the Mfuleni Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre has come a long way since her days of teaching 200 children in a ‘shack crèche’.
Sandra recalls: It wasn’t a healthy environment, the amount of kids in the shack. It was terribly leaking when it was raining; winter time it was the worst time. It was like a knife in my heart, to see all the kids in that shack when it was raining. There was a time when I was rolling up my pants; sweeping water out with a broom. I was keeping on because I care; I also love them, and I was thinking about their future. They need proper education and programmes... and it keeps me going on.
Evidently, there was an immense need for a better situation. Just imagine how difficult it is to manage and teach 200 children under the age of 6. Now think of that scenario under poor conditions. It takes a very special soul to “keep on” with this.
Sandra had the will to change this situation; she just needed some help from people with the means to do it. Sandra had approached various individuals and organisations for help, each time being met with disappointment.
A stroke of luck came Sandra’s way when the SASDI team visited her shack crèche in 2008. The team identified the problems, and told Sandra they were going to work on a solution. The opportunity she had been praying for had finally come. The SASDI team moved forward with their plans to build Sandra a new facility.
The bureaucracy involved in executing the plan proved to be challenging; the frustrating process required persistence and time. Finding land in the Mfuleni Township was difficult as all the land was going on tender. The situation did not look hopeful for the near future. Nevertheless, through perseverance and hard work from all parties involved (the community, the SASDI team, and the help of City of Cape Town), a section of land was found for the development of a new ECD centre. This step forward was met with another problem; community members had to agree to move to a different area for the development of the ECD.
After a series of hitches, building began on 1 April 2010.
Sandra was present from the inception of the project, and saw her dream being built before her eyes. She reminisces: “We started digging the holes, and we continued on. Stages and stages – we even bring the kids to see how the stages went. The first slab, the first brick, the first window”. It is wonderful to see what the combined energy of so many people, such as community individuals and committed international volunteers, can accomplish.
2010 building was complete.
On completion, Sandra explained: It is important for a child, for an ECD, to have a proper environment. The kids must be safe. In this building, the kids are safe because they are enclosed; they are inside, there’re gates; the kids cannot go out in the road; they are in different age groups so they can have the proper education inside the classrooms… it’s more healthy, because the kids are inside; it’s warm – no rain, no wind inside. They do not get sick easy.
My dream really came true. I did dream; I did pray – and the reality is, the building is here. Things can happen now.
Currently, the Mfuleni ECD Centre is run by Sandra and a team of dedicated volunteers from the community. The centre is unique, not only because of its impressive structure, but because the children are taught in English. The early years of a child’s development are essential for the success of their future. Being the sponges that they are; learning foundation skills in South Africa’s first language, under the right conditions, will certainly provide the children with a good start to life.
Sandra has shared her gift and trained competent community members to help in the development of these young minds. Sandra believes that “education starts at home”, she hence enables the running of training programmes for parents and teachers in the building. Community members also use the building for their own purposes; they hold meetings for community-related issues which need to be discussed.
It is encouraging to see what can be done when a few caring people with a goal set out to fulfil it, and how impactful these community projects can be. The collective effort of individuals proves to turn dreams into a reality.