The Siaz Community Crèche recently received a new modern building to the value of R2,4 million from De Beers Venetia Mine. The handing over of the building was held last Friday at Siaz village in the Blouberg area.

Ms Suzan Dafuma, principal of the crèche, said that they had opened the facility in 1992 to help care for the young children when their parents went to look for work. “The generous donation is warmly welcomed, as the children used to sit on the floor of the one-roomed building. We are thankful to the Good Samaritans who have helped us with the much-needed items,” Dafuma added.

The assitant general manager of  De Beers Venetia Mine, Mr Hendrick Malatjila, said one of the company’s social responsibilities was to plough back into communities. “Children are our future leaders and if we nurture them well, we will have good leaders of tomorrow. We also empower deep rural communities with funds for community and development projects, so that they may be self-reliant,” he said.

He said the board funded crèches and pre-schools as they were the foundation phase of education. “We also fund previously disadvantaged and impoverished communities, and Siaz was one of the rural community projects we have funded so far. Our board also aims to alleviate poverty by funding the educational needs of poor children and communities,” said Malatjila.

Malatjila also urged the community and teachers to take care of the donated items and building.