Tshepang Programme

Tshepang is an after-school care programme for orphaned and vulnerable primary school children.

The Tshepang Programme is an after-school care program located in an informal settlement in Roodepoort, near Johannesburg. It was established by Susan Rammekwa, a woman passionate about making a difference in her local community. The program teaches orphaned and vulnerable primary school children literacy, numeracy and life-skills. The children are provided with a meal which, for many, is their only meal for the day. Tshepang is currently caring for more than 215 children. It is a non-profit organisation relying on government funding and private donations of both cash and goods.

Tshepang now also has a creche component, which can provide care and pre-school education to more than 50 disadvantaged children, aged three to five.

Simunye 1 (September 2007)

• Provided sporting equipment and toys for children of all ages
• Provided clothing to those most in need, including footwear for those with none
• Supplied exercise books & pencil cases – complete school supplies for every child at Tshepang
• Put on a party including clown for entertainment & BBQ lunch
• Made an unplanned return visit to distribute ‘care packs’ which included toiletries
• Cheque (to contributed to deposit to purchase premises) – $45, 000 Rand (approx. $7, 500?)
• There were approximately 80-90 kids at Tshepang in 2007

Friends of Simunye (September 2008)

The Simunye team collected 200kg of clothing through donations in Australia. This was transported to South Africa and distributed to the kids at Tshepang, who all received brand new outfits. Tshepang were provided with a fridge and washing machine for their new premises. Furthermore, a small office and computer room was set-up, a sports equipment storage area was built and 80 food buckets were made – one for each family. As with every trip, several activities and games were run for the children at Tshepang.

Simunye 2 (April 2009)

A double garage at the Tshepang Program, which was previously used for storage, was developed into a creche/ kindergarten which can cater for over 50 pre-school children. The Simunye team spent two days converting the garage into the creche, which involved clearing out the stored items, then running electricity into the garage, setting up fluorescent lighting, painting the walls and laying carpet. The kindergarten furnishings came next, including blackboards on the walls, for the kids to draw on, and stations in each of the corners, including a house corner, numeracy corner, reading corner and a wet area. In approximately 15 hours, over two days, the Simunye Project completely converted the double garage into a fully functioning kindergarten and creche. The Tshepang Program can now register the creche to receive government funding, which will mean that  kindergarten teacher can be paid to work there full time.

Simunye 3 (April 2010)

• Low ropes course (wobbly log and spider web)
• Kitchen drain plumbing
• Built 10 outdoor tables

Friends of Simunye (December 2010)

• Planned: Chicken Coup

Simunye 4 (April 2011)

• TBA