Thanks to the continued support of Wild Impact, andBeyond, the Global Visions Fund, The Spence Family Foundation, and generous donor partners, this community-led vision continues to create meaningful opportunities for young children in KwaMakhasa.
In leadership, they often talk about the arena, the place where we show up, put our hearts on the line, and do the hard work even when the outcome is not certain. In the 1990s, a group of women in the KwaMakhasa, one of our partner communities in the iSimangaliso landscape took leadership and stepped into their own arena. With nothing but a few sewing machines and the blessing of the late iNkosi Gumede, they started a cooperative to stitch together a future for their families.
The sewing came to a stop, but the mission did not end; it evolved. Miss Khanyisile Ngubane and her team saw a new need and spent twenty years nurturing the village’s youngest children. That was how Sikhulanabo Creche was born. It is a story that has always been a true reflection of its name Sikhulanabo. In IsiZulu, this carries a deep, soulful meaning: Growth, but not alone—growth together. It suggests that progress is never a solo act. For Sikhulanabo Creche, it is a shared journey.
Sikhulanabo was a registered Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre, but its physical reality did not match its status. Fifty learners were crowded into a single, undersized block with no running water and only a shared pit latrine. Because the infrastructure fell short of Department of Basic Education (DBE) standards, the school was trapped—it was ineligible for the vital government subsidies needed to survive and grow. To unlock its future, a total transformation was required.
To change this, Wild Impact in collaboration with andBeyond partnered with the Global Visions Fund and The Spence Family Foundation to rebuild Sikhulanabo from the ground up. This partnership brought about a monumental transformation, creating an ecosystem where the shared journey of growth could finally flourish.
The community did not just see a single building project; they saw a monumental rollout of six critical facilities designed to turn an undeveloped site into a sanctuary of excellence.
The transformation began with a high-quality perimeter fence, creating a defined space where children feel completely at home. This boundary allowed learners to settle into their learning activities without distraction, knowing they were safe within a world built specifically for them.
Once secure, the focus shifted to restoring dignity. We replaced the shared pit latrine with a dedicated Enviro Loo block. Featuring child-sized facilities because their comfort and hygiene are a priority.
The heart of the centre is the new Double Classroom Block. Moving away from the cramped rooms of the past, these spacious making learning more fun. Designed for centre-based learning—with areas for reading, art, and play—the environment now stimulates the curiosity and cognitive development our children deserve.
The next phase was the construction of a professional kitchen and dining hall. This facility allows for the daily preparation of hot, balanced meals in a hygienic space. The dining hall serves a vital social purpose.
To support the kitchen, a 32m² shaded vegetable garden and water filtration system were established, bringing clean water to the site for the first time. The garden acts as a living laboratory, where children move from abstract concepts to real-world experience—learning the responsibility of caring for living things while harvesting the very produce they eat for lunch.
The final piece of the puzzle was the fully equipped play area. Play is the work of a child, and this vibrant arena is essential for developing physical coordination and soft skills like teamwork and conflict resolution.
In April 2026, the team received the news they had been waiting decades for: Sikhulanabo Creche has officially received its first-ever government subsidy from the Department of Basic Education.
This milestone is the ultimate testament to what happens when we choose to grow together. By meeting every requirement, this collective effort—fueled by the resilience of the KwaMakhasa people and the support of our generous donors—has unlocked a permanent stream of funding and a sustainable operational plan.
The sewing group of the 90s started with a needle and thread. Today, through Wild Impact, in collaboration with andBeyond, and the generous support of the Global Visions Fund and The Spence Family Foundation, Sikhulanabo has stitched together a lasting foundation.
This is what it means to strengthen Future Foundations—creating spaces where children can learn, grow, and thrive. And from these beginnings, Tomorrow’s Leaders begin to emerge.
Wild Impact is a Public Benefit Organisation registered in South Africa. Reg. No.: 930002115