By Karabo Ntanzi
“Passion, patience and love are what keeps Tsala ya Bana Day Care Center going,” these are words uttered by Edith Eiland, the Principal. The center has been in operation since 1 April 2001. According to Eiland the Day Care’s success can be attributed to the fruitful relationship with the parents.
Tsala ya Bana is housed at the historic building between Kekana and Lang Street in Galeshewe. The building is more than fifty years old, still in its original size and shape. It was the foundation of many prominent lives in Kimberley.
The Day Care Centre accepts children from 18 months to pre-school. It operates daily from Monday to Friday to accommodate most parents who are working or at school. Tsala Ya Bana has nine employees, five teachers and four auxiliary members working in the kitchen and garden.
The Tswana medium center follows a strict daily program adjusted to comply with Covid regulations.
According to Covid 19 regulations, the building can only accommodate 63 children. The center used to have an average of 100 children. Currently, there are 52 children, “despite the influx of new applicants. We give priority to children who have been with us. So far, not all of our children came back and we are not sure if they relocated to other centers or are kept at home for health reasons,” said the Principal.
The amount of children has an impact on the income. Tsala Ya Bana relies solely on school fees, covering nutrition and all the running costs, including stipends.
The Principal mentioned that living with the pandemic has affected the center in various ways. The children are confused because of the strange environment they have to operate under. The value of sharing and caring is practiced, but they cannot hug or share anything. It is also challenging to comfort them during those distraught moments and some see this as rejection. Washing hands, sanitising surfaces frequently and the number of children per area has a bearing on the timetable. “They forgot some of the rhymes and songs. Re-instilling discipline and routine is a nightmare,” said the Principal, who is appealing with parents to exert discipline at home.
Wearing masks is another daunting task. “It is impractical for a child to put on a mask the whole day. After taking their temperatures, the rule is children put their masks in their school bags. Otherwise, they put them on their hands or legs, while others exchange their masks or “borrow” their friends’. This behaviour increases the risk of infection,” says the concerned Principal.
She explained that limited singing and physical activities are permissible. Children are divided into smaller groups when playing outside, depending on the weather condition.
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