Nokwesi embraces a young child attending kindergarten. Photo credit: Alexander Sanchez
Siyakhula Preschool, the town of Qolweni, located in Pletenberg Bay in South Africa, has been a place of hope and opportunity since 1997. The kindergarten was also founded by Nokwesi, born from a simple and powerful mission.
Nokwesi remembers the situation that prompted her to start kindergarten. “The local government wanted to build top-class homes elsewhere, so people were moved to Qolweni,” she explains. “Homes and schools were destroyed and those who stayed were not educated for their children. That’s why I opened the Siyahura kindergarten. In the early days it was full of challenges. Many parents were unemployed and unable to pay preschool fees. Funds were scarce and donations were barely present. Nokwesi struggled to provide students with three meals a day, the only meal they received throughout the day. Most of the children came from a disadvantaged background, and kindergarten became more of a lifeline for survival than just a place to learn. “I remember that the kids were hungry and unable to concentrate,” says Nokwesi. “Providing food was just as important as teaching ABC and numbers.”
Being a woman added an extra layer of difficulties. Nokwesi recalls that she often had to fight hard to gain recognition and support. “In the beginning, people didn’t take me seriously,” she admits. “I had to prove that I could do this. I had to run a school, manage the staff and prove that I could provide to the kids. It wasn’t easy, but I knew that if I gave up, I wouldn’t go anywhere to the kids in Qolweni.”
Recognizing the wider needs of the community, Siyakhula Preschool operates a small soup kitchen every Friday using leftovers from a local supermarket. “The kids weren’t the only ones who needed food,” explains Nokwesi. “This has helped people in need and brought together the community.” Families around town come with pots and tupperware for meals. The initiative reminded us every week that kindergarten is more than just school.
Siyakhula Preschool was transformative, especially for girls. “Many young girls do not arrive at school as they will marry young people and have children. “By giving them opportunities to learn, we are helping them avoid this and live a life outside of the future and early marriage and motherly cycle.
Language education is another cornerstone of kindergarten. Children are taught primarily in their native language, Xhosa. At the same time, they learn English and give them advantages in terms of further education and employment opportunities in later years. “Being bilingual opens doors for students and equips them with opportunities they may not have otherwise,” explains Nokwesi. The staff at Siyakhula Preschool are deeply involved in the community. Many have worked in schools for many years, have formed strong bonds with their families, supporting their children both academically and emotionally. Parents often share stories of their children’s success, strengthening the value of education and urge younger students to dream bigger. Nokwesi’s approach emphasizes not only academic learning, but also the importance of social skills, emotional growth and self-belief.
Over the years, Siyakhula Preschool has educated over 2,000 children. Many of them study in universities in South Africa and abroad. While some have already achieved their dream careers, their achievements serve as strong evidence of what is possible when children are given early support and opportunities.
Looking to the future, Nokwesi has an ambitious plan to expand the Siyakhula Preschool to include first-, second- and third-year students. This means that children will no longer have to travel long distances by bus to continue their education, making schooling more accessible to the youngest learners in town. “But this cannot happen without support,” she admits. “We need our community, donors, partners to make this vision a reality. We need all the help that makes a difference in the lives of these children, including volunteering, donations, mentoring.” Nokwesi’s journey is a story of perseverance, courage and hope. She faces economic challenges, social expectations and weight of responsibility, but has never wavered by Kulweni’s commitment to children. Through Siyakhula Preschool, she created more than just school. She created a community of opportunity. There, children are fed, empowered, and encouraged to dream beyond the limits of their situation.
From children who received their first meals at school to young girls who have discovered that education can give them choice and freedom, to families being fed into the soup kitchen on Fridays, Siyakhula Preschool continues to change their lives every day. Nokwesi’s vision reminds us that dedication, support and belief in the next generation can cause ripples of change that one person will change the entire community.
