Featured Project
Preschool Delivered to the Township of Khayelitsha
In 2023, Project Yes Africa (PYA) celebrated a successful investment in children’s education in South Africa. On April 15, 2023, PYA delivered a complete rebuild of the Nokwanda Educare Centre, a crèche, (or pre-school), in the township of Khayelitsha outside of Cape Town, South Africa. The previous school consisted of an aged corrugated tin shack and a two-room house, which provided education and security to young children and served as an informal community service center to area residents.
The new 1,600 Square Foot, two-story building—complete with modern classrooms, kitchen, bathroom, interior and exterior play areas—provides proper access to potable water, electrical supply, sanitary features, fire safety and an improved kitchen for preparation of nutritious meals. The school’s capacity has increased from 40 to 60+ students, which will improve the educational foundation for more children in Khayelitsha for decades to come.
Old Crèche
New Crèche
New Crèche
Imagined by the dedicated centre director Nokwanda Mvana and fully funded by PYA and its donors, the building stands as a shining example of the power of collaboration, innovation, and investment across two continents. The project was done in partnership with Ubuhle Bakha Ubuhle (“UBU”), www.ubu.bz a South African design/build firm using creative, sustainable building solutions.
Using their EcoBeam/sandbag technology, (yes that’s right, the walls are filled floor to ceiling with sandbags!) UBU’s approach made the manufacturing and construction of the school more sustainable and affordable (up to 40% cheaper than a standard brick building), and easier to implement. The sandbag technology also delivers the following benefits compared to traditional building methods:
- Virtually fire-proof (see story below about fires in SA’s townships)
- Thermally and acoustically strong
- Bullet proof
- Eco friendly
Eco Beams and Sandbag installation
Eco Beams and Sandbag installation
Eco Beams and Sandbag installation
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of the build was the employing of local workers on the project. From the start, UBU hired and trained workers from the community to work on the build, who in turn gained new skills such as framing and carpentry. In addition, skilled local craftsmen were hired to provide iron works, plumbing, painting, plastering, paving and artwork. Rounding out the build team was a dedicated community women crew of sandbag fabricators who worked tirelessly to deliver the thousands of sandbags required for a building of its size.
Local Community Workers
Local Community Workers
Local Community Workers
PYA’s development efforts in Khayelitsha through the Nokwanda Educare Centre are representative of our commitment to improving educational opportunities for the children of South Africa.
ECDs in South Africa’s Townships Face Many Challenges
*There is a critical need to expand early childhood education and care to bridge equity gaps.
*Many ECD facilities function without basic infrastructure, such as running water, access to electricity or suitable sanitation.
*Statistics reveal that out of 23,471 public schools and educational facilities in SA, 20,071 have no lavatory.
*The majority of six-year-old children who graduate from ECD centres to primary school are not prepared to matriculate, and more than three quarters of SA children aged nine cannot read for meaning due to poor or no access to ECD education.
*Lack of educational investment often locks young children into a cycle of poverty.
How Sandbag Technology Saves Lives in Townships:
*Experts estimate over 5,000 shack fires burn through South African townships per year.
Why is this happening?
*Many residents’ homes lack electricity, causing residents to turn to solid fuel sources like paraffin candle wax and stoves for heat and warmth.
*Open flames easily spread to nearby materials and homes built side by side, causing entire neighborhoods to erupt into flames within minutes.
View this video to Learn How PYA Helped Nokwanda fulfill her dream of a new school.
