Lilly Mokwena, the founder and principal of Bophelo Day Care Centre at the newly renovated early childhood development centre. 'The residents of Mountain View as well as the parents of the students are very grateful for the structure. Even when it rains they don’t have to come rushing to fetch their children because their children are safe,' she said.
(Photo: Supplied) 
In 2017, Lilly Mokwena had no plans to start a daycare centre.
“I was not working and needed something to do. I started with just one child. I noticed the mother leaving the child in a shack, and I suggested she leave the child with me during the day,” Mokwena said.
As more parents began entrusting their children to her, Mokwena’s small initiative grew. Soon, she was caring for 10 children and contemplating a more formal daycare setting. This led to the founding of Bophelo Day Care Centre in Mamelodi.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_7135.jpg "From left: Verne Harris, the acting president of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Lilly Mokwena, the founder and principal of Bophelo Day Care Centre, and Neale Hill, the president Ford Motor Company Africa at the opening of the new early childhood development centre in Mamelodi in Pretoria on 29 July. (Photo: Supplied)")
On 29 July the centre celebrated the opening of its new facility, one of 27 early childhood development centres built through a collaborative effort with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Department of Basic Education. This initiative, marking Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa’s centenary, aims to construct 100 early childhood development centres in disadvantaged areas to replace outdated nursery schools that are under-resourced, dilapidated, and not compliant with government health and safety standards.
Speaking at the handover ceremony on 29 July, Neale Hill, the president of Ford Motor Company Africa, highlighted the significance of the initiative.
“Standing here and listening to the kids, I think, makes it so special, because that’s exactly what this is all about and this is the future of South Africa. To hear the enthusiasm of the kids here, I think is just so special,” he said.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_7127.jpg "Bophelo Day Care Centre has 53 students, ranging from six months olds to five years, and five teachers. Here Verne Harris, the acting president of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, chats with students. (Photo: Supplied)")
The new centres feature modern facilities, including classrooms, kitchens, toilet facilities, and sick bays. To date, 27 early childhood development centres have been completed and handed over, benefiting more than 1,000 children.
“These bright and colourful new early childhood development centres replace the many woefully inadequate shacks, huts and tired old buildings that served as informal nursery schools, daycare centres and pre-schools in impoverished communities for many years. These centres are more than just buildings, they are pillars of hope, resilience and also promises of future potential that these young kids hope to realise, and we want to help them to realise that,” said Hill.
A safe haven for children
Mokwena expressed her gratitude for the new centre.
“The centre was founded in 2017 with two classes. It was small. I am thankful to Ford and the Nelson Mandela Foundation for building us this beautiful structure,” she said.
The centre currently serves 53 students, ranging from six months to five years old, and employs five teachers.
“The residents of Mountain View and the parents of the students are very grateful. Even when it rains, they don’t have to rush to fetch their children because their children are safe,” said Mokwena.
Collaboration commitment
Nkwe Rapelego, a social worker with the education department, underscored the importance of the partnership.
“This is very important for our communities, especially to identify the centre in this kind of community where children do not have a lot of resources. So this is the legacy for our community, this is the legacy for our children, and to make sure that our children are always safe,” he said.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Bophelo-Before.jpeg "As part of its centenary celebrations, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa is partnering with the Nelson Mandela Foundation to build early childhood development centres in disadvantaged areas. This is the Bophelo Day Care Centre in Mamelodi. (Photo: Supplied)")
Rapelego said the department would work with Mokwena to have the centre fully registered in due course.
Verne Harris, the acting president of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, said he had had discussion with Ford about how to sustain their initiatives.
Partnership
“This is not about us coming, and we open and then they never see us again. We are making a commitment to ensuring that this is a facility that works. I think what you see expressed here is the kind of partnership that our country needs if we’re going to address some of its challenges,” he said.
Harris added that the centre was just a symbol of the broader early childhood development work that the Nelson Mandela Foundation did.
“It’s not enough to build early childhood development centres to develop infrastructure. For that infrastructure to be maintained well and to function effectively, it needs to be part of an ecosystem where the state is doing what it needs to be doing, as well as civil society and the private sector. We’re committed to building that ecosystem,” he said. DM