GIVING BACK
Through contributions, collaborating with non-profit organisations, in-kind gifts and employee volunteerism, Zambezi Crescent Collection is committed to bringing positive, lasting change to our community and the environment.
THE ZAMBEZI CRESCENT PRESCHOOL PROVIDES FREE EDUCATION FOR LOCAL CHILDREN
The sounds of children counting out loud, singing nursery rhymes and bouts of excited laughter can be heard for miles in the lush African bush surrounding the Zambezi Crescent Preschool in the Zambezi National Park.
In January 2018 an ambitious plan to build a preschool for children in the Early Childhood Development phase, aged 3 to 5 years old, came into fruition when the school officially opened its doors. Today the Zambezi Crescent Preschool provides free schooling to pre-schoolers living in the Zambezi National Park’s Staff Village.
Previously the children from the area either received no schooling due to the high cost of school fees, or some had to travel long distances to get to their nearest preschool.
The need for a preschool was recognised by the management and owners of Zambezi Crescent Collection, who value a reciprocal relationship with their friendly and highly competent staff, as well as the surrounding community.
“Quality education at an early age is crucial for early childhood development, and we know that education has the power to change the world. By giving the children this foundation, we prepare them for the rest of their educational journey in life,” said Zambezi Crescent Collection Owner Mark Bosch.
“Before the school opened it was very difficult for us parents, especially those who have to work during the day. The children were just running around at home.” Parent
PROVIDING FREE EDUCATION
GIVEN THEIR ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN THE NATIONAL PARK, THE ZAMBEZI CRESCENT COLLECTION PRIDES ITSELF ON PROVIDING FREE SCHOOLING TO PRE-SCHOOLERS LIVING IN THE NATIONAL PARK’S STAFF VILLAGE
In keeping with the true African spirit of vast and extended family structures, this offer is inclusive of not only children of Parks’ employees, but also relatives of those employed by the National Park and even the children of friends of Park’s employees who live in the Zambezi National Park Staff Village.
Zambezi Crescent Preschool, consisting of a student body of more than 20 children of a mixed balance of boys and girls, is located just a few metres from the children’s homes in the Staff Village. This allows the children the freedom to walk to school and back while being supervised by an adult, on a daily basis. School starts at 8am and finishes at 12pm in the Summer, and in Winter it opens at 9am and closes at 1pm.
The school has two qualified teachers following the rigorous Zimbabwean Early Childhood Development curriculum with a total of six subjects being taught every day.
In maintaining a relatively small group of learners with two dedicated teachers, the school ensures personalised attention and quality education for each child. The children from Zambezi Crescent Preschool go on regular outings and receive ICT lessons at Victoria Falls Primary School, based in the town of Victoria Falls.
After the necessary approval was received from the authorities in 2017, Zambezi Crescent Collection set out to build the preschool building, which proved to be a labour of love.
As with any build in Zimbabwe, materials were extremely costly or simply not available, with the result that many materials used for the school, along with all plumbing and electrical fittings, had to be sourced and brought in from South Africa.
There were also no electrical lines or water lines supplying the site, so these had to be brought in from the nearest point in the National Park’s Staff Village.
The team from Zambezi Crescent Collection, consisting of passionate staff members and contractors, had to lay electrical lines and plumbing over the entire distance by hand – manually digging the trenches.
On 9 January 2018 the school was officially opened. It was a joyous occasion, with excited children embarking on a new learning adventure.
The preschool continues to receive regular upgrades to enhance the learning environment. These upgrades included the painting of the school and refurbishment of the classroom and bathroom facilities to create a more stimulating and conducive space for the children. The schoolgrounds surrounding the classrooms also received a play-area and watertank.
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
We deeply appreciate any support from guests and interested parties for our school community. As such, we have identified several items that individuals can donate towards to support our learners.
ZAMBEZI CRESCENT PRESCHOOL WISHLIST
- Age-appropriate books: Storybooks and Colouring books
- Age-appropriate stationary: thick colouring pencils and crayons, paint, photocopying paper
- Age-appropriate sports equipment (football, cricket, table tennis, etc.)
- Electronic equipment for ICT as a subject: tablets and/or a laptop, a DVD player, a television and/or a radio
- Sun hats & Sports uniforms
- Hiring the services of a qualified sports trainer/ coach
- Developing the play area with a jungle gym, swings and slides
- Another classroom and/or a Wendy-house
- Plastic/ portable pool for cooling off on hot Summer days
- Dress-up clothes
- Outdoor kitchen items
- Big Lego (Duplo)
- Building blocks
- Buckets and spades
- Watering cans
- Sandpit toys
- Plastic animals (insect, farm and wild animals)
