A Calling

It’s been good to be back in South Africa 🇿🇦. I have participated in the program for 3 years and once visited on my own. Each year I have visited has been different, which I am very thankful for.

It’s great to be back because I have the privilege and honor to continue with the crèche I volunteered for in 2017. The name of the crèche is called Little Angels Educare Centre where Sellina opened the doors to her home to serve the children and families in her community, Vrygrond. Sellina is the principal and teacher of her crèche and her program has expanded from the last time I have volunteered. Principal Sellina serves children from 0-6 years old and has 2 new committed teachers, who are fully invested in teaching and caring for children. They are currently enrolled in college to learn more about teaching young children. It is good to see how teacher Sellina is fully committed to her work because she has described it to be a passion for her and something she has been interested in since she was very young. 

Being part of her program has blessed me in many ways because I have been able to meet and get to know the children in her program and learn from the teachers, teacher Promise and teacher Lebo. They are also very eager to learn from us. In July they are having a Christmas in July celebration with other crèches in the community, and included us by asking us to teach them a Christmas song, so my partner and I suggested a song in Spanglish “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano. The teachers were so excited about singing a couple of verses and Spanish and started practicing right away with the children. 

In a recent workshop we had with True North, NGO in the community of Vrygrond, the leader described our field of work as a calling and not just a 9-5 job because when one knows this is one’s calling, he or she approaches their day-to-day job with a different mindset and approach. I think of the teachers that I work with in the crèches who not just show up because they know this is their calling and have a passion for what they do. My hope is that I can support and encourage them during my time here. 

-Cynthia