in Durban North and chose the Malacca settlement as a part of church outreach. Despite its years of success, Hayes-Hill felt that the interaction between the church and the children they sponsored lacked in substance. There was a pressing need to have a tangible impact on the Malacca settlement.
In 2017, Hayes-Hill and her team created the Amaphupho Yezingane Seed Fund non-profit organisation . Its registered name means dreams of children. “We focus on awakening the dream locked inside every child and empowering them, through education, to help them realise these dreams,” said Hayes-Hill. This grand vision has blossomed and continues to bear fruit in the inconspicuous shipping containers. In the afternoons, the Seed Fund is a hive of activity as the space in front of the containers hums with the chatter of primary school children and volunteers.
The realisation of this gap in their education catalysed the formation of the early childhood development centre in the fourth container. The centre is run by two women from the community, both of whom are currently studying for ECD diplomas. Sthembile Buthelezi, one of the ECD practitioners, says: “We are teaching the children to have positive minds, which leads to happy lives and a bright future.
In the last year, the ECD centre has been a stimulating and nurturing environment for the pre-school children, all of whom have shown a profound improvement. Buthelezi has observed the impact of education on learners. “Ever since we started the Seed Fund, the community is seeing a difference in their children’s lives, their behaviour and their school progress,” she said. “[The parents] are very happy and supportive as they are looking for the best for their children.