Pupils and staff at On the Sparrow Daycare in New Brighton are rejoicing after hearing that the centre is to receive a donation from Standard Bank.
It was the second coup for the centre in two months — its founder, Nokuthula Tsotsobe, was crowned the 2024 Herald Citizen of the Year Awards education category winner in September.
Tsotsobe said she met Standard Bank’s representatives at the awards and they later visited the centre, which is based at her home in Dippa Place, New Brighton.
“They were impressed and said to me they would try to do something to help,” she said.
“I did not imagine it would happen so quickly or that it would be so much.
“They called me two weeks ago and I thought I may have heard incorrectly.
“But then they emailed me confirmation.”
She said the donation had her feeling excited, grateful and happy.
“Standard Bank has given us hope for a brighter future.
“All we had were dreams without funding to back them up.
“This [money] has given us that chance to see our dreams becoming a reality.”
Tsotsobe said the money would be put to good use.
“We will fix the roof and buy stationery and a laptop, as well as learning equipment, educational toys and groceries.
“We have 30 pupils from four to 25 years old and they are from poor homes so we feed them twice a day.
“This money will also be a huge help covering electricity and the cost of employing eight staff.
“We need those coloured wall charts to help teach counting and arithmetic, foam mats with letters of the alphabet to help teach reading and yoga balls to help with physical exercises.
“We also need squeaky toys, rattles and other musical instruments to help stimulate the pupils who struggle with hearing.”
Tsotsobe, 47, grew up in New Brighton, where she went to school, before going on to obtain a BCom accounting degree from Nelson Mandela University.
After struggling to find a job in the field, she took up a position as an engine operator at Volkswagen.
Staying with the company, she later moved across to the financial department and then human resources.
The establishment of her centre stemmed from her struggle to find a school in the township to help take care of her disabled son, Lubabalo, who is now 21.
A neighbour noticed the good progress she was making with homeschooling “Lubby” and suggested she open a centre for special needs children, and in 2016, after resigning from VW, she did just that.
“Our curriculum is hobby-based.
“Each of us loves doing something and we learn best when we are doing that.”
Standard Bank’s Unathi Maqalekane, Head, Client Coverage, Personal and Private Banking, Eastern Cape said the bank hoped the donation would help with the running of the centre, which performed a vital role.
“It is central to our purpose and strategy — ‘Africa is our home; we drive her growth’.
“By extending our support to organisations like On the Sparrow Daycare, we make an enormous difference in the lives of beneficiaries and help to connect our people to our communities and build pride in our brand.”
HeraldLIVE
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